Chaffee Gulch Detention Dam #6 is a gravity dam located in Ouray County, Colorado, built in 1965. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 44 ft44 ft tall and 588 ft long, taller than 89% 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 concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Chaffee Gulch Detention Dam #6
The primary purpose of Chaffee Gulch Detention Dam #6 is debris control. The dam is designed to catch sediment, rocks, and debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in areas prone to mudslides or heavy erosion. The dam is owned by Doi BLM (federal). It impounds the Chaffee Gulch.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 588 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 20 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2,030 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 06/18/2012. That was over 14 years ago.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Ouray |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Chaffee Gulch |
| Coordinates | 38.27438, -107.72283 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 588 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2,030 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | Doi BLM |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/18/2012 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01267 |
| Federal ID | CO01267 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |