Big Creek #1
Big Creek #1 is an earth dam located in Mesa County, Colorado, built in 1893. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Big Creek #1
The primary purpose of Big Creek #1 is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Big Creek Reservoir Company (young - President, Ha (private). It impounds the Big Creek near Plateau City.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 514 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 63 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 22 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1893, the structure is over a century old.
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 10/19/2021.
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 | Mesa |
| Nearest City | Plateau City |
| River/Stream | Big Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.08001, -107.88890 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 514 ft |
| Year Completed | 1893 (133 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 764 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 22 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 764 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 63 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,188 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BIG CREEK RESERVOIR COMPANY (YOUNG - PRESIDENT, HA |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/19/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00935 |
| Federal ID | CO00935 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |