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Dataset Description

  • A Jurisdictional Dam is a dam creating a reservoir with a capacity of more than 100 acre-feet, or creates a reservoir with a surface area in excess of 20 acres at the high-water line, or exceeds 10 feet in height measured vertically from the elevation of the lowest point of the natural surface of the ground where that point occurs along the longitudinal centerline of the dam up to the crest of the emergency spillway of the dam. For reservoirs created by excavation, or where the invert of the outlet conduit is placed below the surface of the natural ground at its lowest point beneath the dam, the jurisdictional height shall be measured from the invert of the outlet at the longitudinal centerline of the embankment or from the bottom of the excavation at the longitudinal centerline of the dam, whichever is greatest. Jurisdictional height is defined in Rule 4.2.19. The State Engineer shall have final authority over determination of the jurisdictional height of the dam.
  • A Non-Jurisdictional Dam is a dam creating a reservoir with a capacity of 100 acre-feet or less and a surface area of 20 acres or less and with a height measured as defined in Rules 4.2.5.1 and 4.2.19 of 10 feet or less. Non-jurisdictional size dams are regulated and subject to the authority of the State Engineer consistent with sections 37- 87-102 and 37-87-105 C.R.S.

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    Columns in this Dataset
    Column Name Description Type
    Administration Type Indicates if the dam type is Jurisdictional or Non-Jurisdictional Text
    Assigned To The Colorado Dam Safety Engineer assigned to the dam Text
    County County where the Dam is located. Text
    County County where the Dam is located. Text
    Crest Elevation The elevation above mean sea-level estimated to the nearest foot of the crest (top) of the dam. Decimal (10,2)
    Current Restrictions Flag indicating if the Dam is currently under restriction Text
    Dam Height The height of the dam, in feet to the nearest foot, which is defined as the vertical distance between the lowest point on the crest of the dam and the lowest point in the original streambed. Decimal (10,2)
    Dam ID Unique SEO Dam ID Text
    Dam Length The length, in feet, of the dam which is defined as the length along the top of the dam. This also includes the spillway, power plant, navigation lock, fish pass, etc., where these form part of the length of the dam. Decimal (10,2)
    Dam Name Official name of the Dam as shown in the DWR database Text
    Dam Type

    Indicates the type of dam:

    • RE for Earth
    • ER for Rockfill
    • PG for Gravity
    • CB for Buttress
    • VA for Arch
    • MV for Multi-Arch
    • CN for Concrete
    • MS for Masonry
    • ST for Stone
    • TC for Timber Crib
    • OT for Other

    Codes are concatenated if the dam is a combination of several types. For example, the entry CNCB would indicate a concrete buttress dam type.

    		 Text
    Div Division where the Dam is located. Integer
    Division Division where the Dam is located. Integer
    Downstream Town Name of the nearest city, town, or village that is most likely to be affected by floods resulting from the failure of the dam. Text
    Drainage Area The drainage area of the dam, in square miles, which is defined as the area that drains to a particular point (in this case, the dam) on a river or stream. Integer
    Drainage Area The drainage area of the dam, in square miles, which is defined as the area that drains to a particular point (in this case, the dam) on a river or stream. Integer
    EAP

    Indicates whether this dam has an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) developed by the dam owner. An EAP is defined as a plan of action to be taken to reduce the potential for property damage and loss of life in an area affected by a dam failure or large flood.

    • Y for Yes
    • N for No
    • NR for Not Required by Submitting Agency
    		 Text
    EAP Date Date Emergency Action Plan was submitted. DateTime
    EAP Inundation Map Emergency Action Plan included an inundation map. Text
    Federal Land Indicates whether dam is a non-federal dam located on federal property. Text
    Federal Regulations Federally Owned Dam or private dam subject to federal regulations (i.e. FERC) Text
    Gage Height float
    Hazard Class

    Hazard Classification - is the placement of a dam into one of four categories based on the hazard potential derived from an evaluation of the probable incremental adverse consequences due to failure or improper operation of the dam. Conditions for evaluation are absent flooding, and the reservoir is assumed to be full to the high water line. The hazard potential classification does not reflect the current condition of the dam with regard to safety, structural integrity, or flood routing capacity.

    • High - is a dam for which loss of human life is expected to result from failure of the dam. Designated recreational sites located downstream within the bounds of possible inundation should also be evaluated for potential loss of human life.
    • Significant - is a dam for which significant damage is expected to occur, but no loss of human life is expected from failure of the dam. Significant damage is defined as damage to structures where people generally live, work, or recreate, or public or private facilities. Significant damage is determined to be damage sufficient to render structures or facilities uninhabitable or inoperable.
    • Low - is a dam for which loss of human life is not expected, and significant damage to structures and public facilities as defined for a "Significant Hazard" dam is not expected to result from failure of the dam.
    • No Public Hazard (NPH) - is a dam for which no loss of human life is expected, and which damage only to the dam owner's property will result from failure of the dam.
    		 Text
    Inspector Person or agency who performed the last inspection. Text
    Inundation Map Date Date inundation map was created. DateTime
    Last Inspection Date Date of the most recent inspection of the dam date
    Latitude Latitude (decimal degrees) Decimal (8,6)
    Latitude Latitude (decimal degrees) Decimal (8,6)
    Location Accuracy Accuracy of UTM coordinates Text
    Location Accuracy Accuracy of UTM coordinates Text
    Longitude Longitude (decimal degrees) Decimal (9,6)
    Longitude Longitude (decimal degrees) Decimal (9,6)
    Modified Last date that this record was modified in the DWR database DateTime
    Modified Last date that this record was modified in the DWR database DateTime
    More Information Link to Dam Safety web page. Text
    More Information Link to Dam Safety web page. Text
    NID ID National Inventory of Dams ID (USACE) Text
    Normal Storage The normal storage, in acre-feet, which is defined as the total storage space in a reservoir below the normal retention level, including dead and inactive storage and excluding any flood control or surcharge storage. Integer
    Other Dam Names Names other than the official name (i.e., reservoir name) of the dam in common use. Text
    Outlet Capacity Capacity of the outlet in cubic-feet per second Decimal (10,2)
    Outlet Description Type of outlet on a dam (i.e Steel pipe, Concrete pipe, Tunnel, etc.) Text
    Outlet Inspection Date Date of the outlet inspection DateTime
    Overall Conditions Overall conditions on the dam as determined during the last inspection Text
    Physical Status Indicates physical status of dam Text
    PM Principle Meridian Text
    Primary Contact Person representing the owner Text
    Primary Name Person/Agency who owns the dam Text
    Purposes

    The purposes for which the reservoir is used:

    • I for Irrigation
    • H for Hydroelectric
    • C for Flood Control and Storm Water Management
    • N for Navigation
    • S for Water Supply
    • R for Recreation
    • P for Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Farm Pond
    • F for Fish and Wildlife Pond
    • D for Debris Control
    • T for Tailings
    • O for Other

    The order should indicate the relative decreasing importance of the purpose. Codes are concatenated if the dam has multiple purposes.

    		 Text
    Q160 160 acre quarter section indicator. Text
    Q40 40 acre quarter section indicator. Text
    Range Range Text
    Restriction Description Description of restriction Text
    Safe Storage Recommended safe storage levels as determined during the last inspection. Text
    Section Section Integer
    Spillway Capacity Combined capacity of all spillways on a dam in cubic-feet per second. Decimal (10,2)
    Stream

    Official name of the river or stream on which the dam is built. If the stream is unnamed:

    • Identified as a tributary to a named river (e.g. Snake-TR)
    • If the dam is located offstream, it is the name of the river or stream plus “- OS” (e.g. Snake-OS)
    		 Text
    Surface Area The surface area, in acres, of the impoundment at its normal retention level. Integer
    Town Distance Distance from the dam to the nearest affected City/Town/Village, to the nearest mile (and tenth if appropriate). float
    Township Township Text
    UTM x The x (Easting) component of the Universal Transverse Mercator system. (NAD83 datum) Decimal (8,1)
    UTM X The x (Easting) component of the Universal Transverse Mercator system. (NAD83 datum) Decimal (8,1)
    UTM y The y (Northing) component of the Universal Transverse Mercator system. (NAD83 datum) Decimal (8,1)
    UTM Y The y (Northing) component of the Universal Transverse Mercator system. (NAD83 datum) Decimal (8,1)
    Water District Water District where the Dam is located. Integer
    WD Water District where the Dam is located. Integer
    WDID DWR unique structure identifier Text
    WDID DWR unique structure identifier Text
    Year Completed Year when the original main dam structure was completed. Integer