Joe Wright
Joe Wright is an earth dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1979. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Joe Wright
The primary purpose of Joe Wright is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Fort Collins (morrison, Ken) (local government). It impounds the Joe Wright Creek near Fort Collins.
The dam stands 148 feet tall and stretches 2,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 152 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,353 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1979, the structure is 47 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/24/2022.
At 148 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 | Larimer |
| Nearest City | Fort Collins |
| River/Stream | Joe Wright Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.55940, -105.87111 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 148 ft |
| Dam Height | 123 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1979 (47 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,353 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,353 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,161 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 152 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,875 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF FORT COLLINS (MORRISON, KEN) |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/24/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01766 |
| Federal ID | CO01766 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |