Clear Creek
Clear Creek is an earth dam located in Chaffee County, Colorado, built in 1910. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Clear Creek
The primary purpose of Clear Creek is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Board Of Water Works-pueblo, Colorado (ward, Alan) (public utility). It impounds the Clear Creek near Buena Vista.
The dam stands 80 feet tall and stretches 2,850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 425 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,560 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 69 square miles. Completed in 1910, 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 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 06/08/2022.
At 80 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Chaffee |
| Nearest City | Buena Vista |
| River/Stream | Clear Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.02167, -106.24723 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,850 ft |
| Year Completed | 1910 (116 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,560 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,560 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 11,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 425 acres |
| Drainage Area | 69 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 42,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | BOARD OF WATER WORKS-PUEBLO, COLORADO (WARD, ALAN) |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/08/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01143 |
| Federal ID | CO01143 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |