Elkhead Creek
Elkhead Creek is an earth dam located in Moffat County, Colorado, built in 1979. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Elkhead Creek
The primary purpose of Elkhead Creek is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Colorado River Water Conservation District (causey (local government). It impounds the Elkhead Creek near Craig.
The dam stands 118 feet tall and stretches 1,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 724 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 37,190 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 212 square miles. Completed in 1979, the structure is 47 years 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 06/09/2022.
At 118 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Moffat |
| Nearest City | Craig |
| River/Stream | Elkhead Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.55779, -107.38362 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 118 ft |
| Dam Height | 90 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1979 (47 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 37,190 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 37,190 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 24,778 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 724 acres |
| Drainage Area | 212 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 28,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | COLORADO RIVER WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (CAUSEY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/09/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00976 |
| Federal ID | CO00976 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |