Heart Lake
Heart Lake is an earth dam located in Rio Blanco County, Colorado, built in 1892. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Heart Lake
The primary purpose of Heart Lake is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Fish & Cross Ranch (snyder, Tyler) (private). It impounds the Watson Creek near Yampa.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 126 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 40 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 443 acre-feet. Completed in 1892, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected 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. The most recent inspection on record was 08/06/2015. That was over 10 years ago.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Rio Blanco |
| Nearest City | Yampa |
| River/Stream | Watson Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.10808, -107.04171 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 126 ft |
| Year Completed | 1892 (134 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 443 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 443 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 283 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
| Max Discharge | 105 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | FISH & CROSS RANCH (SNYDER, TYLER) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/06/2015 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01916 |
| Federal ID | CO01916 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |