Grand Mesa #1

Grand Mesa #1 is an earth dam located in Mesa County, Colorado, built in 1887. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.

About Grand Mesa #1

The primary purpose of Grand Mesa #1 is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Grand Junction (local government). It impounds the Reservoir Creek near Grand Junction.

The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 48 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 655 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1887, 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/13/2021.

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Significant HazardUnsatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateColorado
CountyMesa
Nearest CityGrand Junction
River/StreamReservoir Creek
Coordinates39.01001, -108.11223

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height22 ft
Dam Height22 ft
Dam Length800 ft
Year Completed1887 (139 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage655 acre-ft
Max Storage655 acre-ft
Normal Storage559 acre-ft
Surface Area48 acres
Drainage Area1 sq mi
Max Discharge240 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeIrrigation
OwnerCITY OF GRAND JUNCTION
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentUnsatisfactory
Last Inspection10/13/2021
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDCO00826
Federal IDCO00826
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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