Rist - Benson
Rist - Benson is an earth dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1903. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Rist - Benson
The primary purpose of Rist - Benson is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Louden Irrigating Canal And Reservoir Company (lea (private). It impounds the Big Thompson River-tr near Loveland.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 1,495 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 62 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 819 acre-feet. Completed in 1903, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/29/2022.
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 | Loveland |
| River/Stream | Big Thompson River-tr |
| Coordinates | 40.40780, -105.11751 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,495 ft |
| Year Completed | 1903 (123 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 819 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 819 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 456 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 62 acres |
| Max Discharge | 3,508 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | LOUDEN IRRIGATING CANAL AND RESERVOIR COMPANY (LEA |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 07/29/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00167 |
| Federal ID | CO00167 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |