Needle Creek is an earth dam located in Saguache County, Colorado, built in 1961. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 90 ft90 ft tall and 660 ft long, taller than 97% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Needle Creek
The primary purpose of Needle Creek is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Needle Creek Reservoir Association (private). It impounds the Needle Creek near Gunnison.
The dam stands 90 feet tall and stretches 660 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 42 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,298 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1961, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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. The most recent inspection on record was 08/02/2022.
At 90 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Saguache |
| Nearest City | Gunnison |
| River/Stream | Needle Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.35334, -106.55890 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 90 ft |
| Dam Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Length | 660 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,298 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,298 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,046 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 42 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 966 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Needle Creek Reservoir Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 08/02/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00797 |
| Federal ID | CO00797 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |