Cerro
Cerro is an earth dam located in Montrose County, Colorado, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Cerro
The primary purpose of Cerro 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 Montrose (bries, David) (local government). It impounds the Uncompahgre River-tr near Montrose.
The dam stands 72 feet tall and stretches 880 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 28 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 817 acre-feet. Completed in 1966, 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 06/29/2022.
At 72 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 | Montrose |
| Nearest City | Montrose |
| River/Stream | Uncompahgre River-tr |
| Coordinates | 38.44581, -107.63752 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 72 ft |
| Dam Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Length | 880 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 817 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 817 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 675 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 28 acres |
| Max Discharge | 790 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF MONTROSE (BRIES, DAVID) |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/29/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00237 |
| Federal ID | CO00237 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |