Riverside
Riverside is an earth dam located in Weld County, Colorado, built in 1908. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Riverside
The primary purpose of Riverside is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Riverside Irrigation District (don Chapman) (private). It impounds the Sanborn Draw near Orchard.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 23,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,811 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 91,391 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 89 square miles. Completed in 1908, 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 12/16/2021.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 88% 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 | Orchard |
| River/Stream | Sanborn Draw |
| Coordinates | 40.32850, -104.24308 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Length | 23,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1908 (118 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 91,391 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 91,391 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 63,303 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,811 acres |
| Drainage Area | 89 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,371 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | RIVERSIDE IRRIGATION DISTRICT (DON CHAPMAN) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/16/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00112 |
| Federal ID | CO00112 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |