Kennicott Slough
Kennicott Slough is an earth dam located in Delta County, Colorado, built in 1946. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Kennicott Slough
The primary purpose of Kennicott Slough is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Surface Creek Ditch & Reservoir Co. (waibel, Keith (private). It impounds the Kiser Creek-tr near Cedaredge.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 1,246 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 76 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,034 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1946, 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 07/12/2022.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% 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 | Kiser Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.02742, -107.95475 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,246 ft |
| Year Completed | 1946 (80 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,034 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,034 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 490 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 76 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 553 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | SURFACE CREEK DITCH & RESERVOIR CO. (WAIBEL, KEITH |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/12/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00580 |
| Federal ID | CO00580 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |