Bonita is an earth dam located in Delta County, Colorado, built in 1893. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 28 ft28 ft tall and 430 ft long, taller than 62% 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 Bonita
The primary purpose of Bonita is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Elmer Ferganchick (private). It impounds the Surface Creek-tr near Cedaredge.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 430 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 29 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 360 acre-feet. Completed in 1893, the structure is over a century 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 06/30/2021.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Delta |
| Nearest City | Cedaredge |
| River/Stream | Surface Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.05311, -107.84532 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 430 ft |
| Year Completed | 1893 (133 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 360 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 360 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 230 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 29 acres |
| Max Discharge | 1,005 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Elmer Ferganchick |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/30/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00424 |
| Federal ID | CO00424 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |