Elk Lake #1 is an earth dam located in Teller County, Colorado, built in 1971. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 44 ft44 ft tall and 323 ft long, taller than 89% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Elk Lake #1
The primary purpose of Elk Lake #1 is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Highland Lakes Water District (brent Ebaugh) (private). It impounds the Twin Creek-tr near Florissant.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 323 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 126 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1971, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 09/21/2021.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Teller |
| Nearest City | Florissant |
| River/Stream | Twin Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 38.94723, -105.22057 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 323 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 126 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 126 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 75 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Highland Lakes Water District (brent Ebaugh) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/21/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00360 |
| Federal ID | CO00360 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |