Milton Seaman
Milton Seaman is an earth dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1948. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Milton Seaman
The primary purpose of Milton Seaman is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Greeley Dept. Of Water Resources (gustafso (local government). It impounds the N Fork Cache La Poudre near Laporte.
The dam stands 120 feet tall and stretches 410 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 146 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 541 square miles. Completed in 1948, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 10/17/2022.
At 120 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Larimer |
| Nearest City | Laporte |
| River/Stream | N Fork Cache La Poudre |
| Coordinates | 40.70667, -105.23723 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 120 ft |
| Dam Height | 115 ft |
| Dam Length | 410 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,008 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 146 acres |
| Drainage Area | 541 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 47,600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF GREELEY DEPT. OF WATER RESOURCES (GUSTAFSO |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/17/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00143 |
| Federal ID | CO00143 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |