Rifle Gap Dam
Rifle Gap Dam is an earth dam located in Garfield County, Colorado, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Rifle Gap Dam
The primary purpose of Rifle Gap 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 Rifle Creek near Rifle.
The dam stands 157 feet tall and stretches 1,450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 435 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 18,261 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 136 square miles. Completed in 1967, 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 08/18/2022.
At 157 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 | Garfield |
| Nearest City | Rifle |
| River/Stream | Rifle Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.62790, -107.75950 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 157 ft |
| Dam Height | 157 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 18,261 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 18,261 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 12,168 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 435 acres |
| Drainage Area | 136 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,645 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/18/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01692 |
| Federal ID | CO01692 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |