Lake Catamount
Lake Catamount is an earth dam located in Routt County, Colorado, built in 1974. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Catamount
The primary purpose of Lake Catamount 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 Catamount Metro District (anderson, District Manag (private). It impounds the Yampa River near Steamboat Springs.
The dam stands 69 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 563 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 15,867 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 390 square miles. Completed in 1974, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 06/07/2022.
At 69 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Routt |
| Nearest City | Steamboat Springs |
| River/Stream | Yampa River |
| Coordinates | 40.36501, -106.80057 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 69 ft |
| Dam Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 15,867 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 15,867 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,422 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 563 acres |
| Drainage Area | 390 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 30,900 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CATAMOUNT METRO DISTRICT (ANDERSON, DISTRICT MANAG |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/07/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO02140 |
| Federal ID | CO02140 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |