Sugar Loaf Dam is an earth dam located in Lake County, Colorado, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 162 ft162 ft tall and 2,020 ft long, taller than 99% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against the Statue of Liberty, 305 ft ground to torch; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Sugar Loaf Dam
The primary purpose of Sugar Loaf Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Lake Fork of Arkansas River near Buena Vista.
The dam stands 162 feet tall and stretches 2,020 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,788 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,833,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 27 square miles. Completed in 1968, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/26/2022.
At 162 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Lake |
| Nearest City | Buena Vista |
| River/Stream | Lake Fork of Arkansas River |
| Coordinates | 39.25310, -106.37270 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 162 ft |
| Dam Height | 125 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,020 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,833,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,833,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 129,398 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,788 acres |
| Drainage Area | 27 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,920 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Bureau of Reclamation |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/26/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01669 |
| Federal ID | CO01669 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |