Haviland Lake
Haviland Lake is an earth dam located in La Plata County, Colorado, built in 1927. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Haviland Lake
The primary purpose of Haviland Lake 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 Parks And Wildlife (state). It impounds the Elbert Creek-tr near Durango.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 580 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 61 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,025 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1927, 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 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 05/09/2022.
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 | La Plata |
| Nearest City | Durango |
| River/Stream | Elbert Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 37.53266, -107.80739 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 580 ft |
| Year Completed | 1927 (99 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,025 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,025 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 526 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 61 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 585 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/09/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01062 |
| Federal ID | CO01062 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |