Bonham-wells
Bonham-wells is an earth dam located in Mesa County, Colorado, built in 1900. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Bonham-wells
The primary purpose of Bonham-wells is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Big Creek Reservoir Company (young - President, Ha (private). It impounds the Big Creek near Plateau City.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 109 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,765 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1900, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/19/2021.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% of dams nationwide.
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 | Mesa |
| Nearest City | Plateau City |
| River/Stream | Big Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.10334, -107.90224 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,765 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,765 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,223 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 109 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,351 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BIG CREEK RESERVOIR COMPANY (YOUNG - PRESIDENT, HA |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/19/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01677 |
| Federal ID | CO01677 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |