Continental
Continental is an earth dam located in Hinsdale County, Colorado, built in 1927. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Continental
The primary purpose of Continental is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Santa Maria Reservoir Co. (holland, Keith) (private). It impounds the North Clear Creek near South Fork.
The dam stands 120 feet tall and stretches 310 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 735 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 30,707 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 50 square miles. Completed in 1927, 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 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 08/17/2022.
At 120 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Hinsdale |
| Nearest City | South Fork |
| River/Stream | North Clear Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.88671, -107.20645 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 120 ft |
| Dam Height | 92 ft |
| Dam Length | 310 ft |
| Year Completed | 1927 (99 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 30,707 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 30,707 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 22,825 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 735 acres |
| Drainage Area | 50 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,844 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | SANTA MARIA RESERVOIR CO. (HOLLAND, KEITH) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/17/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00767 |
| Federal ID | CO00767 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |