Panhandle
Panhandle is an earth dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Panhandle
The primary purpose of Panhandle is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Crystal Lakes Water & Sewer Association (goodell, (private). It impounds the Panhandle Creek near Fort Collins.
The dam stands 71 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 52 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,621 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 square miles. Completed in 1971, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 08/04/2022.
At 71 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Fort Collins |
| River/Stream | Panhandle Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.85008, -105.64585 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 71 ft |
| Dam Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,621 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,621 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,018 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 52 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 20,060 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | CRYSTAL LAKES WATER & SEWER ASSOCIATION (GOODELL, |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/04/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00145 |
| Federal ID | CO00145 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |