Black Lake #1
Black Lake #1 is an earth dam located in Eagle County, Colorado, built in 1939. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Black Lake #1
The primary purpose of Black Lake #1 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 Eagle River Water & Sanitation District (wright, L (public utility). It impounds the Black Gore Creek near Vail.
The dam stands 73 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 28 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 642 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1939, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 06/16/2022.
At 73 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Eagle |
| Nearest City | Vail |
| River/Stream | Black Gore Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.54279, -106.22057 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 73 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 642 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 642 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 469 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 28 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | EAGLE RIVER WATER & SANITATION DISTRICT (WRIGHT, L |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/16/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO02188 |
| Federal ID | CO02188 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |