Union is an earth dam located in Weld County, Colorado, built in 1902. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 33 ft33 ft tall and 1,200 ft long, taller than 76% 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 Union
The primary purpose of Union is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Union Ditch Company (ken Huson) (private). It impounds the St Vrain Creek-tr near Platteville.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 717 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 16,250 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1902, the structure is over a century old.
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 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 06/15/2021.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 76% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Weld |
| Nearest City | Platteville |
| River/Stream | St Vrain Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 40.17272, -105.04465 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1902 (124 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16,250 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 16,250 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 12,715 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 717 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 14,925 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Union Ditch Company (ken Huson) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/15/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01219 |
| Federal ID | CO01219 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |