Paonia Dam
Paonia Dam is an earth dam located in Gunnison County, Colorado, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Paonia Dam
The primary purpose of Paonia 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 Colorado River near Somerset.
The dam stands 199 feet tall and stretches 770 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 357 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 23,230 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 256 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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 06/15/2021.
At 199 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 | Somerset |
| River/Stream | Colorado River |
| Coordinates | 38.94190, -107.35230 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 199 ft |
| Dam Height | 199 ft |
| Dam Length | 770 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 23,230 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 23,230 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 17,461 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 357 acres |
| Drainage Area | 256 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 12,570 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/15/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01691 |
| Federal ID | CO01691 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |