Sawmill is an earth dam located in Summit County, Colorado, built in 1890. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 17 ft17 ft tall and 180 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 Sawmill
The primary purpose of Sawmill is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town of Breckenridge (laura Lynch) (local government). It impounds the Sawmill Gulch-os near Breckenridge.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 180 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 40 acre-feet. Completed in 1890, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/23/2021.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Summit |
| Nearest City | Breckenridge |
| River/Stream | Sawmill Gulch-os |
| Coordinates | 39.47334, -106.05890 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 180 ft |
| Year Completed | 1890 (136 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 27 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Max Discharge | 300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Breckenridge (laura Lynch) |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/23/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00665 |
| Federal ID | CO00665 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |