Kiowa Crk Wtrshd K-79 is an earth dam located in El Paso County, Colorado, built in 1955. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 39 ft39 ft tall and 755 ft long, taller than 85% 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 Kiowa Crk Wtrshd K-79
The primary purpose of Kiowa Crk Wtrshd K-79 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 Kiowa Conservation District (carnahan, Charlie) (local government). It impounds the Kiowa Creek near Elbert.
The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 755 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 251 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1955, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 10/06/2020.
At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 85% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | El Paso |
| Nearest City | Elbert |
| River/Stream | Kiowa Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.06723, -104.58223 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 755 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 251 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 251 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 126 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,129 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Kiowa Conservation District (carnahan, Charlie) |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/06/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00022 |
| Federal ID | CO00022 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |