3 Elk Dam is an earth dam located in Chaffee County, Colorado, built in 1973. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 38 ft38 ft tall and 325 ft long, taller than 84% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 3 Elk Dam
The primary purpose of 3 Elk Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Three Elk Creek Property Owners Association (laier (private). It impounds the 3 Elk Creek near Buena Vista.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 325 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 58 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 09/27/2012. That was over 14 years ago.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 84% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Chaffee |
| Nearest City | Buena Vista |
| River/Stream | 3 Elk Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.89501, -106.21558 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 325 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 58 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 58 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 26 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 125 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Three Elk Creek Property Owners Association (laier |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/27/2012 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO02046 |
| Federal ID | CO02046 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |