Totten is an earth dam located in Montezuma County, Colorado, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 36 ft36 ft tall and 3,005 ft long, taller than 82% 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 Totten
The primary purpose of Totten is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Montezuma Valley Irrigation Co. (private). It impounds the Simon Draw-tr near Cortez.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 3,005 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 244 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,540 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 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 05/02/2022.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 82% 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 | Montezuma |
| Nearest City | Cortez |
| River/Stream | Simon Draw-tr |
| Coordinates | 37.36085, -108.53470 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,005 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,540 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,540 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,990 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 244 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,610 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Montezuma Valley Irrigation Co. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/02/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01092 |
| Federal ID | CO01092 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |