Thurston Lake is an earth dam located in Prowers County, Colorado, built in 1928. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 20 ft20 ft tall and 4,000 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Thurston Lake
The primary purpose of Thurston Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Fort Lyon Canal Co. (private). It impounds the Arkansas River-os near Lamar.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 4,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 650 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,550 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1928, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 04/29/2021.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Prowers |
| Nearest City | Lamar |
| River/Stream | Arkansas River-os |
| Coordinates | 38.22334, -102.62890 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1928 (98 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,550 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,550 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,714 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 650 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,560 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Fort Lyon Canal Co. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/29/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01851 |
| Federal ID | CO01851 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |