Fooses is an earth dam located in Chaffee County, Colorado, built in 1904. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 33 ft33 ft tall and 218 ft long, taller than 76% 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 Fooses
The primary purpose of Fooses is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Xcel Energy (public utility). It impounds the Fooses Creek near Poncha Springs.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 218 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 25 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1904, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 09/13/2012. That was over 14 years ago.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 76% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Chaffee |
| Nearest City | Poncha Springs |
| River/Stream | Fooses Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.54029, -106.24771 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 218 ft |
| Year Completed | 1904 (122 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 25 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 25 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 14 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 592 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Xcel Energy |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/13/2012 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO02450 |
| Federal ID | CO02450 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |