Minkler, Eldon Det. #1 is an earth dam located in El Paso County, Colorado, built in 1970. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 24 ft24 ft tall and 769 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 Minkler, Eldon Det. #1
The primary purpose of Minkler, Eldon Det. #1 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Eldon Minkler (private). It impounds the Horse Creek-tr near Las Animas.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 769 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 116 acre-feet. Completed in 1970, 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 10/20/1992. That was over 33 years ago.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | El Paso |
| Nearest City | Las Animas |
| River/Stream | Horse Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 38.99001, -104.18224 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 769 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 116 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 116 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 84 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Max Discharge | 1,980 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Eldon Minkler |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/20/1992 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00531 |
| Federal ID | CO00531 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |