Wagon Tongue
Wagon Tongue is an earth dam located in Park County, Colorado, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Wagon Tongue
The primary purpose of Wagon Tongue is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Wagon Tongue Rec. Club, Inc. (terry Brunette) (private). It impounds the Wagon Tongue Gulch near Lake George.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 380 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 210 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1960, 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 10/20/2022.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% 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 | Park |
| Nearest City | Lake George |
| River/Stream | Wagon Tongue Gulch |
| Coordinates | 38.90501, -105.39890 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 380 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 210 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 210 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 130 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,748 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | WAGON TONGUE REC. CLUB, INC. (TERRY BRUNETTE) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/20/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00343 |
| Federal ID | CO00343 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |