Welsh is an earth dam located in Eagle County, Colorado, built in 1915. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 36 ft36 ft tall and 500 ft long, taller than 82% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 Welsh
The primary purpose of Welsh is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Piney Valley Ranches Trust (leary, Daniel) (private). It impounds the Alkali Creek near Wolcott.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 13 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 216 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1915, 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 07/13/2021.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Eagle |
| Nearest City | Wolcott |
| River/Stream | Alkali Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.79333, -106.74723 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1915 (111 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 216 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 216 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 142 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,098 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Piney Valley Ranches Trust (leary, Daniel) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/13/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00882 |
| Federal ID | CO00882 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |