List of dam removals in Colorado
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This is a list of dams in Colorado that have been removed as physical impediments to free-flowing rivers or streams.
Completed removals
| Dam[1] | Height | Year removed | Location | Watercourse | Watershed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt Shavano Dam (Salida Lowhead Dam)[2] | 15 ft (4.6 m) | 2023 | Chaffee County 38°33′06″N 106°01′48″W / 38.5518°N 106.0301°W |
Arkansas River | Arkansas River | Water diversion for fish hatchery. Owned by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife. |
| Riss East | 56 ft (17 m) | 2016 | Teller County 38°46′59″N 105°13′34″W / 38.783°N 105.226°W |
Tributary to Barnard Creek | Recreation and fishing dams. | |
| Riss North | 38 ft (12 m) | 2016 | Teller County 38°47′31″N 105°13′59″W / 38.792°N 105.233°W | |||
| Riss South | 50 ft (15 m) | 2016 | Teller County 38°47′06″N 105°14′20″W / 38.785°N 105.239°W | |||
| Dotson and Enlargement Dam | 24 ft (7.3 m) | 2015 | Pueblo County 38°07′41″N 104°11′49″W / 38.128°N 104.197°W |
Huerfano River | Irrigation dam. | |
| Cucharas #5 Dam | 135 ft (41 m) | 2019 | Huerfano County 37°45′N 104°36′W / 37.75°N 104.6°W |
Cucharas River | This 1910 irrigation dam experienced structural problems throughout its life, including a partial failure in 1987 which resulted in the emergency dynamiting of a spillway. Reconstruction of the dam was proposed in the 2010s but was deemed economically infeasible. Following years of litigation, the State Engineer took emergency control of the dam in 2017 for safety reasons. The state removed it in 2019, recovering the cost in court from the dam's owners.[3] At the time, it was the third-largest dam ever to be removed in the United States.[4] | |
| Idylwilde Dam | 57 ft (17 m) | 2013 | Larimer County 40°25′44″N 105°18′43″W / 40.4288°N 105.312°W |
Big Thompson River | Big Thompson River | Hydropower dam owned by the City of Loveland. |
| Carriage Hills #2 Dam | 10 ft (3.0 m) | 2017 | Estes Park 40°21′N 105°30′W / 40.35°N 105.5°W |
Fish Creek | Recreation dam owned by the Town of Estes Park. | |
| Glacier #1 Dam | 11 ft (3.4 m) | 1985 | Rocky Mountain National Park 40°30′18″N 105°35′49″W / 40.505°N 105.597°W |
North Fork Big Thompson River | ||
| Chipeta Dam | 5 ft (1.5 m) | 2006 | Hotchkiss 38°47′04″N 107°44′38″W / 38.7845°N 107.7439°W |
North Fork Gunnison River | Gunnison River | Roller dam owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. |
| Hidden Treasure Dam | 2019 | Lake City 38°01′16″N 107°22′44″W / 38.021°N 107.3788°W |
Henson Creek | Mining hydropower dam. | ||
| Lake George Diversion Dam (Lower Eleven Mile Dam)[2] | 25 ft (7.6 m) | 2023 | Park County 38°58′05″N 105°22′01″W / 38.9681°N 105.367°W |
South Platte River | South Platte River | Water supply dam owned by the U.S. Forest Service. Previously owned by Colorado Springs Utilities. |
| Pear Lake Dam | 28 ft (8.5 m) | 1988 | Allenspark 40°10′37″N 105°37′24″W / 40.177°N 105.6233°W |
Cony Creek | ||
| Dewey No. 1 | 15 ft (4.6 m) | 2014 | Denver 39°48′01″N 104°59′17″W / 39.8004°N 104.988°W |
Municipal water storage dam. | ||
| Lower Church Lake Dam | 4 ft (1.2 m) | 2015 | Fort Lupton 39°53′20″N 105°10′44″W / 39.889°N 105.179°W |
Big Dry Creek | Irrigation and water supply dam. | |
| Stanley Canyon Dam | 30 ft (9.1 m) | 2018 | El Paso County 38°59′N 104°56′W / 38.99°N 104.93°W |
Stanley Canyon Creek | Owned by Colorado Springs Utilities. | |
| Unnamed Dam #1 (Lamborn #1) | 20 ft (6.1 m) | 2002 | Fort Morgan 40°22′00″N 103°56′06″W / 40.3668°N 103.935°W |
Tributary to South Platte River | ||
| Unnamed Dam #2 | 2002 | Tributary to South Platte River | ||||
| Josh Ames Diversion Dam | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2013 | Fort Collins 40°36′18″N 105°06′00″W / 40.6051°N 105.1°W |
Cache la Poudre River | ||
| Bluebird Dam | 56 ft (17 m) | 1990 | Rocky Mountain National Park 40°11′33″N 105°39′09″W / 40.1926°N 105.6526°W |
Ouzel Creek | Water storage dam. | |
| Sand Beach Dam | 25 ft (7.6 m) | 1988 | Allenspark 40°13′02″N 105°36′07″W / 40.2171°N 105.602°W |
Sand Beach Creek | ||
| Hall Dam | 40 ft (12 m) | 2017 | Jefferson County 39°46′N 105°14′W / 39.76°N 105.24°W |
Clear Creek | Irrigation and recreation dam owned by Jefferson County Open Space. | |
| Polaris Dam | 22 ft (6.7 m) | 2018 | Glenwood Springs 39°29′N 107°04′W / 39.49°N 107.06°W |
Tributary to Cattle Creek | ||
| No Name #15 Dam | 15 ft (4.6 m) | |||||
| No Name #17 Dam | 15 ft (4.6 m) | |||||
| No Name #22 Dam | 15 ft (4.6 m) | |||||
| Toby Wells Pond Dam | 16 ft (4.9 m) | 1989 | ||||
| No Name #21 Dam | 1990 | |||||
| No Name #8 Dam | 12 ft (3.7 m) | 1990 |
References
- ^ Rivers, American (13 February 2023). "American Rivers Dam Removal Database". Figshare. American Rivers. doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.5234068.v10. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ a b Rivers, American (12 February 2024). "American Rivers Dam Removal Database". Figshare. American Rivers. doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.5234068.v11. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ Perry, Mark; McCormick, Bill; Bennington, Paul; Lopez, Phillip. "The Cucharas #5 Dam Removal; a Story of Determination, Persistence and Partners" (PDF). Dam Safety 2020 Abstracts. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ East, Amy E.; Harrison, Lee R.; Smith, Douglas P.; Logan, Joshua B.; Bond, Rosealea M. (30 June 2023). "Six years of fluvial response to a large dam removal on the Carmel River, California, USA". Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 48 (8): 1487–1501. doi:10.1002/esp.5561. ISSN 0197-9337.