Western Hillside Reservoir is an earth dam located in Eagle County, Colorado, built in 1997. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 46 ft46 ft tall and 1,300 ft long, taller than 91% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Western Hillside Reservoir
Western Hillside Reservoir is a dam in Eagle, Colorado. The dam is owned by Vail Resorts (private). It impounds the Bachelor Gulch-os near Avon.
The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 1,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 154 acre-feet. Completed in 1997, the structure is 29 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 08/09/2022.
At 46 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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 | Avon |
| River/Stream | Bachelor Gulch-os |
| Coordinates | 39.60418, -106.54224 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1997 (29 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 154 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 154 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 124 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Max Discharge | 224 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Vail Resorts |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/09/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO02804 |
| Federal ID | CO02804 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |