L E D E is an earth dam located in Eagle County, Colorado, built in 1931. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 57 ft57 ft tall and 825 ft long, taller than 94% 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 L E D E
The primary purpose of L E D E is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Town of Gypsum (hancock, Jim) (local government). It impounds the Gypsum Creek near Gypsum.
The dam stands 57 feet tall and stretches 825 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 36 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,153 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1931, 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 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 07/11/2022.
At 57 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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 | Eagle |
| Nearest City | Gypsum |
| River/Stream | Gypsum Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.46668, -106.77890 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Length | 825 ft |
| Year Completed | 1931 (95 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,153 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,153 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 953 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 36 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,764 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Town of Gypsum (hancock, Jim) |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/11/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00934 |
| Federal ID | CO00934 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |