Richards is an earth dam located in Adams County, Colorado, built in 1902. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 17 ft17 ft tall and 3,501 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 Richards
The primary purpose of Richards is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Stonehocker, Mike (private). It impounds the Big Dry Creek-os near Fort Lupton.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 3,501 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 126 acre-feet. Completed in 1902, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 09/24/2013. That was over 13 years ago.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Adams |
| Nearest City | Fort Lupton |
| River/Stream | Big Dry Creek-os |
| Coordinates | 39.97334, -104.92557 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,501 ft |
| Year Completed | 1902 (124 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 126 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 126 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 93 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Stonehocker, Mike |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 09/24/2013 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO02147 |
| Federal ID | CO02147 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |