Martin Lake
Martin Lake is an earth dam located in Huerfano County, Colorado, built in 1910. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Martin Lake
The primary purpose of Martin Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Walsenburg (local government). It impounds the Cucharas River-os near Walsenburg.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 190 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,076 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 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 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 05/06/2022.
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 | Huerfano |
| Nearest City | Walsenburg |
| River/Stream | Cucharas River-os |
| Coordinates | 37.60668, -104.83223 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1910 (116 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,076 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,076 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,077 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 190 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,900 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CITY OF WALSENBURG |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/06/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01327 |
| Federal ID | CO01327 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |