Lemon Dam
Lemon Dam is a rockfill dam located in La Plata County, Colorado, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Lemon Dam
The primary purpose of Lemon Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Florida River near Bondad.
The dam stands 284 feet tall and stretches 1,360 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 686 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 487,660 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 68 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 08/23/2022.
At 284 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 | La Plata |
| Nearest City | Bondad |
| River/Stream | Florida River |
| Coordinates | 37.38190, -107.66100 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 284 ft |
| Dam Height | 284 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,360 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 487,660 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 487,660 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 40,146 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 686 acres |
| Drainage Area | 68 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/23/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01688 |
| Federal ID | CO01688 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |