Fisher Peak Det. Fpc-1 is an earth dam located in Las Animas County, Colorado, built in 1961. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 85 ft85 ft tall and 540 ft long, taller than 97% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Fisher Peak Det. Fpc-1
The primary purpose of Fisher Peak Det. Fpc-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 City of Trinidad Dpw (local government). It impounds the Purgatoire River-tr near Trinidad.
The dam stands 85 feet tall and stretches 540 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 338 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1961, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 10/24/2022.
At 85 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Las Animas |
| Nearest City | Trinidad |
| River/Stream | Purgatoire River-tr |
| Coordinates | 37.15439, -104.49706 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 85 ft |
| Dam Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Length | 540 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 338 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 338 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 274 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,512 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Trinidad Dpw |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/24/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00533 |
| Federal ID | CO00533 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |