D.d. & E. Wise is an earth dam located in Rio Blanco County, Colorado, built in 1946. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 41 ft41 ft tall and 340 ft long, taller than 87% 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 D.d. & E. Wise
The primary purpose of D.d. & E. Wise is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Yellow Jacket Ranch, Ltd (joint Owner) (davidson, (private). It impounds the Milk Creek-tr near Maybell.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 340 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 59 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,244 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1946, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 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 09/01/2021.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 87% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Rio Blanco |
| Nearest City | Maybell |
| River/Stream | Milk Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 40.17501, -107.68723 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Length | 340 ft |
| Year Completed | 1946 (80 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,244 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,244 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,011 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 59 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 495 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Yellow Jacket Ranch, Ltd (joint Owner) (davidson, |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/01/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00971 |
| Federal ID | CO00971 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |