Little Gem
Little Gem is an earth dam located in Delta County, Colorado, built in 1948. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Little Gem
The primary purpose of Little Gem is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Town Of Orchard City (oelke, Melissa) (local government). It impounds the Ward Creek-tr near Cedaredge.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 525 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 248 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1948, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 10/06/2022.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Delta |
| Nearest City | Cedaredge |
| River/Stream | Ward Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.03000, -108.00390 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 525 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 248 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 248 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 219 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 735 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | TOWN OF ORCHARD CITY (OELKE, MELISSA) |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/06/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00587 |
| Federal ID | CO00587 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |