Milton Lake
Milton Lake is an earth dam located in Weld County, Colorado, built in 1911. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Milton Lake
The primary purpose of Milton Lake is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Farmers Reservoir And Irrigation Company (edgar, S (private). It impounds the Beebe Seep Canal near Kersey.
The dam stands 55 feet tall and stretches 6,099 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,660 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 44,650 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 120 square miles. Completed in 1911, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/28/2022.
At 55 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Colorado dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Weld |
| Nearest City | Kersey |
| River/Stream | Beebe Seep Canal |
| Coordinates | 40.23848, -104.63776 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,099 ft |
| Year Completed | 1911 (115 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 44,650 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 44,650 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 21,695 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,660 acres |
| Drainage Area | 120 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 22,770 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | FARMERS RESERVOIR AND IRRIGATION COMPANY (EDGAR, S |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/28/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01899 |
| Federal ID | CO01899 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |