Ridgway Dam
Ridgway Dam is an earth dam located in Ouray County, Colorado, built in 1987. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Ridgway Dam
The primary purpose of Ridgway Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Umcompahgre River near Colona.
The dam stands 330 feet tall and stretches 2,340 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,109 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 93,945 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 264 square miles. Completed in 1987, the structure is 39 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/10/2020.
At 330 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Ouray |
| Nearest City | Colona |
| River/Stream | Umcompahgre River |
| Coordinates | 38.23660, -107.75850 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 330 ft |
| Dam Height | 330 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,340 ft |
| Year Completed | 1987 (39 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 93,945 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 93,945 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 84,410 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,109 acres |
| Drainage Area | 264 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,830 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/10/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO02706 |
| Federal ID | CO02706 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |