Fort Lyon Control Basin is an earth dam located in Prowers County, Colorado, built in 1959. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 21 ft21 ft tall and 2,188 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 Fort Lyon Control Basin
The primary purpose of Fort Lyon Control Basin is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Fort Lyon Canal Co. (private). It impounds the Arkansas River-os near Granada.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 2,188 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 121 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,249 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1959, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 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 04/29/2021.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Prowers |
| Nearest City | Granada |
| River/Stream | Arkansas River-os |
| Coordinates | 38.20333, -102.55890 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,188 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,249 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,249 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 644 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 121 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,853 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Fort Lyon Canal Co. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/29/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00737 |
| Federal ID | CO00737 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |