Blue Mesa Dam
Blue Mesa Dam is an earth dam located in Gunnison County, Colorado, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Blue Mesa Dam
The primary purpose of Blue Mesa Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Gunnison River near Austin.
The dam stands 390 feet tall and stretches 785 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9,180 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 938,469 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3,429 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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 07/18/2023.
At 390 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 | Gunnison |
| Nearest City | Austin |
| River/Stream | Gunnison River |
| Coordinates | 38.45330, -107.33420 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 390 ft |
| Dam Height | 390 ft |
| Dam Length | 785 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 938,469 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 938,469 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 748,430 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9,180 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3,429 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 33,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/18/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01675 |
| Federal ID | CO01675 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |