Larson is an earth dam located in Rio Blanco County, Colorado, built in 1888. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 21 ft21 ft tall and 66 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 Larson
The primary purpose of Larson 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 Natural Soda, Inc. (daehling, Kirk) (private). It impounds the Piceance Cr-tr near Rio Blanco.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 66 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 74 acre-feet. Completed in 1888, 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 05/12/2020.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Rio Blanco |
| Nearest City | Rio Blanco |
| River/Stream | Piceance Cr-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.74256, -107.94441 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 66 ft |
| Year Completed | 1888 (138 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 74 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 74 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 62 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Max Discharge | 273 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Natural Soda, Inc. (daehling, Kirk) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/12/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01932 |
| Federal ID | CO01932 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |