Burns, Walter L. Det. is an earth dam located in Elbert County, Colorado, built in 1967. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 25 ft25 ft tall and 564 ft long, taller than 50% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Burns, Walter L. Det.
The primary purpose of Burns, Walter L. Det. is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by W. Leonard Burns, Jr. (private). It impounds the Middle Bijou Creek near Deer Trail.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 564 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 13 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 153 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1967, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 07/18/1991. That was over 35 years ago.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Elbert |
| Nearest City | Deer Trail |
| River/Stream | Middle Bijou Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.37056, -104.18584 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 564 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 153 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 153 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 93 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | W. Leonard Burns, Jr. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/18/1991 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00005 |
| Federal ID | CO00005 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |