Big Meadows - North Dike
Big Meadows - North Dike is an earth dam located in Mineral County, Colorado, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Big Meadows - North Dike
The primary purpose of Big Meadows - North Dike is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Colorado Parks And Wildlife (state). It impounds the S. Fork Rio Grande near South Fork.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 115 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,356 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 square miles. Completed in 1968, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 06/08/2022.
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 | Mineral |
| Nearest City | South Fork |
| River/Stream | S. Fork Rio Grande |
| Coordinates | 37.54116, -106.80137 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,356 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,356 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,436 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 115 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,333 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/08/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO02869 |
| Federal ID | CO02869 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |