Big Battlement
Big Battlement is an earth dam located in Delta County, Colorado, built in 1949. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Big Battlement
The primary purpose of Big Battlement 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 Delta (caudle, Casey) (local government). It impounds the Dirty George Creek near Cedaredge.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 350 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 52 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,160 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1949, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/24/2022.
At 32 feet, this dam is taller than 76% 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 | Delta |
| Nearest City | Cedaredge |
| River/Stream | Dirty George Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.99500, -108.05223 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 350 ft |
| Year Completed | 1949 (77 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,160 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,160 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 780 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 52 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 882 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF DELTA (CAUDLE, CASEY) |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/24/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00373 |
| Federal ID | CO00373 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |