FLOOD03020

• County: Statewide
• Community: State of Colorado
• Stream Name: All
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Floodplain Management Manual for Local Government
• Date: 9/1/1993
• Prepared For: State of Colorado
• Prepared By: CWCB
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

Hazard Classifications
The dams under the jurisdiction of the State Engineer have been
rated as high, moderate. or low hazard. The hazard ratings are based
upon the potential for causing loss of life or damages in the event of
dam failure during non-flooding conditions.
DAMS IN COLORADO

Non-Federal
Federal
Total

High
197
35
232

Moderate
327
10
337

Low
1,605
75
1.680

Total
2,129
120
2,249'

*These figures were prepared on June 1, 1983. As of July 1, 1983 the state criteria for
hazard ratings were changed. Revised figures were not available at the time of printing
of this manual.
The hazards pertain not to the condition of a dam but to the poten-
tial for loss of human life or property damage in the area downstream
of a dam in the event of structural failure or misoperation of the dam
or appurtenances.

HAZARD POTENTIAL CLASSIFICATION (Re: Colorado
Divison
of Water
Resources)

Category
Low

Moderate

Loss of Life
None expected (No per-
manent structures for
human habitation)

None expected (No
urban developments
and no more than a
small
number of inhabitable
structures)
One or more

Economic Loss
Minimal (Undeveloped
to occasional structures
or agriculture)

Appreciable (Notable
agriculture, industry or
structures)

High

Not considered

Note: There is no relationship between hazard rating and spillway capacity. Spillway
design floods are based on the failure of the dam by overtopping being insignificant in
relation to the design flood, i.e., no additional loss of life or property damage due to the
dam break.

Information concerning the hazard classification associated with
dams in Colorado is public record. To date the State Engineer and
the DODES have transmitted lists of all the high hazard dams to local
planning officials and requested that they prepare emergency plans
for the failure of those dams. The local officials have also been
notified of the availability of dam safety information which is provided
on request. The importance of the hazard classification system to
local officials is that it can provide information regarding potential
damages that their community mayor may not suffer as the result of
a dam failure.

12