Grand Valley Diversion Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grand Valley Diversion Dam |
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| Location | Mesa County, near Palisade, Colorado, United States |
| Coordinates | 39°11′20″N 108°16′55″W / 39.18889°N 108.28194°W |
| Construction began | 1913 |
| Opening date | 1916 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Roller gate weir |
| Impounds | Colorado River |
| Height | 14 ft (4.3 m) |
| Length | 546 ft (166 m) |
| Power station | |
| Commission date | 1933 |
| Installed capacity | 3,000 KW |
| Annual generation | 19,350,600 KWh |
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Grand Valley Diversion Dam
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Palisade, Colorado |
| Area | 4.8 acres (1.9 ha) |
| Built | 1913 |
| Built by | U.S. Reclamation Service |
| Architectural style | Roller-gate dam |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001485 |
| Added to NRHP | October 8, 1991 |
The Grand Valley Diversion Dam is a special dam located in Mesa County, Colorado, near a town called Palisade, Colorado. It helps control the Colorado River and sends its water to farms in the Grand Valley. This dam was built a long time ago, between 1913 and 1916, and it's known for having some of the first and biggest "roller gates" ever used in the United States!
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What is the Grand Valley Diversion Dam?
The Grand Valley Diversion Dam is a type of diversion dam. It is found in the De Beque Canyon of the Colorado River. The dam is about 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Grand Junction.
It is 14-foot (4.3 m) high and 546-foot (166 m) long. The dam is made of concrete and has six special gates. These gates were the first and largest of their kind in the United States when they were built.
How the Dam Helps Farmers
The dam was built between 1913 and 1916. It was part of a big plan called the Grand Valley Project. This project was managed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR).
The main job of the dam is to send water into the Government Highline Canal. This canal helps water many farms in western Colorado's Grand Valley. It provides full water for about 33,368 acres (13,504 ha) of land. It also gives extra water to another 8,600 acres (3,500 ha) of farms.
Making Electricity from Water
A small power plant was finished in 1933. This plant uses the water from the dam to make hydroelectricity. It can produce 3,000 kilowatts (KW) of power. This power plant is located on the Orchard Mesa Power Canal. This canal is a branch of the main Government Highline Canal.
In 1949, the dam and its canal system were given to a group called the Grand Valley Water Users Association. The power plant was given to the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District.
A Historic Landmark
The Grand Valley Diversion Dam is an important piece of history. Because of its special design and role, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 8, 1991. This means it is recognized as a place that is important to the history of the United States.
