Franz #1 is an earth dam located in Chaffee County, Colorado, built in 1928. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 16 ft16 ft tall and 2,140 ft long. 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 Franz #1
The primary purpose of Franz #1 is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (state). It impounds the Arkansas River-os near Salida.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 2,140 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 63 acre-feet. Completed in 1928, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 08/10/1978. That was over 48 years ago.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Chaffee |
| Nearest City | Salida |
| River/Stream | Arkansas River-os |
| Coordinates | 38.54334, -106.02223 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,140 ft |
| Year Completed | 1928 (98 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 63 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 63 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 31 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Max Discharge | 126 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | Colorado Parks and Wildlife |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/10/1978 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00453 |
| Federal ID | CO00453 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |