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List of dams in the Colorado River system facts for kids

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Colorado river dams
Map showing locations of major dams in the Colorado River basin. Lee's Ferry, which separates the Upper and Lower Basins, is located just downriver from Glen Canyon Dam.

This is a list of dams on the Colorado River system of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The Colorado runs 1,450 mi (2,330 km) from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California, draining parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states. The river system is one of the most heavily developed in the world, with fifteen dams on the main stem of the Colorado and hundreds more on tributaries. Collectively, dams in the Colorado River basin can hold four to five times the river's annual flow, generating hydroelectricity and supplying irrigation and municipal water for over 35 million people.

Dams on tributaries are listed if they are taller than 250 ft (76 m), store more than 50,000 acre⋅ft (62,000 dam3), or are otherwise historically notable. Tributary dams are organized into two lists; those in the Upper Basin, defined as the half of the Colorado River basin above Lee's Ferry, Arizona, and the Lower Basin. The Upper Basin include such tributary systems as the Green, Gunnison and San Juan. Tributaries in the Lower Basin include the Little Colorado, Virgin and Gila. A key tributary of the San Juan River, the Animas River, was severely affected by the EPA's accidental August 2015 Gold King Mine waste water spill.

Notes:

  • Flood control: Temporary retention and quick release of flood flows
  • Hydropower: Generation of electricity utilizing water flow through the hydraulic head provided by the dam and reservoir
  • Irrigation: Provision and storage of water for agriculture
  • Municipal: Provision and storage of water for residential, commercial and industrial uses
  • Regulation: To control erratic inflows to provide either a stable flow downstream or to release water on demand to downstream users

Main stem

Name State Owner Purpose Year
completed		 Reservoir Reservoir
capacity		 Capacity
(MW)		 Annual
generation
(MWh)		 Refs
Morelos Dam  AZ
 BC		 IBWC Irrigation 1950 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Laguna Diversion Dam  AZ
 CA		 USBR Diversion 1905 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Imperial Dam  AZ
 CA		 USBR Irrigation 1938 Imperial Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".160,000 acre.ft
(197,400 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Palo Verde Dam  AZ
 CA		 USBR Diversion 1958 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Headgate Rock Dam  AZ
 CA		 BIA Irrigation 1941 Moovalya Lake N/A &&&&&&&&&&&&&019.50000019.5 ?
Parker Dam  AZ
 CA		 USBR Hydropower
Irrigation
Municipal		 1938 Lake Havasu 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".646,200 acre.ft
(797,100 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0120.&&&&&0120 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".456,944
Davis Dam  AZ
 NV		 USBR Hydropower
Regulation		 1951 Lake Mohave 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".1,818,300 acre.ft
(2,242,800 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0255.&&&&&0255 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".1,147,673
Hoover Dam  AZ
 NV		 USBR Flood control
Hydropower
Irrigation
Municipal
Regulation		 1936 Lake Mead 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".28,945,000 acre.ft
(35,702,400 dam3)		 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".2,079 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".3,806,935
Glen Canyon Dam  AZ USBR Hydropower
Regulation		 1966 Lake Powell &&&&&&&026214900.&&&&&026,214,900 acre.ft
(32,334,900 dam3)		 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".1,296 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".3,454,847
Price-Stubb Dam  CO PCID
MCID		 Irrigation 1911 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Grand Valley Diversion Dam  CO USBR Irrigation 1916 N/A N/A &&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".19,350
Windy Gap Dam  CO Northern Water Irrigation
Municipal		 1970 Windy Gap Reservoir &&&&&&&&&&&&0445.&&&&&0445 acre.ft
(549 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Granby Dam  CO USBR Irrigation
Municipal		 1950 Lake Granby 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".539,800 acre.ft
(665,800 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Shadow Mountain Dam  CO USBR Irrigation
Municipal		 1946 Shadow Mountain Lake 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".18,400 acre.ft
(22,700 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Total 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".58,343,045 acre.ft
(71,963,595 dam3)		 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".3,772.5 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".8,885,749

Upper Basin

Name State Stream Owner Purpose Year
completed		 Reservoir Reservoir
capacity		 Capacity
(MW)		 Annual
generation
(MWh)		 Refs
Blue Mesa Dam  CO Gunnison USBR Flood control
Hydropower
Regulation		 1966 Blue Mesa Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".940,700 acre.ft
(1,160,300 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&&086.40000086.4 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".203,412
Dillon Dam  CO Blue Denver Water Irrigation
Municipal		 1963 Dillon Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".257,304 acre.ft
(317,373 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.8000001.8 ?
Flaming Gorge Dam  UT Green USBR Flood control
Hydropower
Regulation		 1964 Flaming Gorge Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".3,788,700 acre.ft
(4,673,200 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0153.&&&&&0153 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".344,369
Fontenelle Dam  WY Green USBR Flood control
Irrigation		 1964 Fontenelle Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".345,360 acre.ft
(426,990 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&&010.&&&&&010 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".67,043
Green Mountain Dam  CO Blue USBR Hydropower
Regulation		 1943 Green Mountain Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".153,639 acre.ft
(189,507 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&&021.60000021.6 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".60,228
Joes Valley Dam  UT Seely Cr. USBR Irrigation
Municipal		 1966 Joes Valley Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".54,920 acre.ft
(67,740 dam3)		 N/A N/A
McPhee Dam  CO Dolores USBR Flood control
Irrigation		 1984 McPhee Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".381,195 acre.ft
(470,187 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.2830001.283 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".5,335
Morrow Point Dam  CO Gunnison USBR Hydropower 1968 Morrow Point Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".117,190 acre.ft
(144,550 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0173.334000173.334 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".292,887
Navajo Dam  NM San Juan USBR Flood control
Irrigation
Municipal
Regulation		 1962 Navajo Lake 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".1,708,600 acre.ft
(2,107,500 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&&032.&&&&&032 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".215,000
Ridges Basin Dam  CO Offstream USBR Irrigation 2007 Lake Nighthorse 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".120,000 acre.ft
(148,000 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Ridgway Dam  CO Uncompahgre USBR Flood control
Irrigation		 1987 Ridgway Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".84,410 acre.ft
(104,120 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Ruedi Dam  CO Fryingpan USBR Irrigation
Municipal		 1968 Ruedi Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".102,000 acre.ft
(125,800 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Scofield Dam  UT Price USBR Irrigation
Municipal		 1946 Scofield Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".73,600 acre.ft
(90,780 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Soldier Creek Dam  UT Strawberry USBR Irrigation
Municipal		 1974 Strawberry Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".1,127,610 acre.ft
(1,390,860 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Starvation Dam  UT Strawberry USBR Irrigation 1970 Starvation Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".167,300 acre.ft
(206,400 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Taylor Park Dam  CO Taylor USBR Irrigation 1937 Taylor Park Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".106,200 acre.ft
(130,990 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Vallecito Dam  CO Los Pinos River USBR Irrigation 1941 Vallecito Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".129,700 acre.ft
(160,000 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Vega Dam  CO Plateau Creek USBR Irrigation 1959 Vega Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".33,800 acre.ft
(41,691 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Williams Fork Dam  CO Williams Fork Denver Water Irrigation
Municipal		 1959 Williams Fork Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".96,822 acre.ft
(119,426 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.1580003.158 ?
Wolford Mountain Dam  CO Muddy Cr. CRWCD Irrigation
Municipal		 1996 Wolford Mountain Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".66,000 acre.ft
(81,400 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Total 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".9,821,250 acre.ft
(12,114,080 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0482.575000482.575 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".1,188,274

Lower Basin

Name State Stream Owner Purpose Year
completed		 Reservoir Reservoir
capacity		 Capacity
(MW)		 Annual
generation
(MWh)		 Refs
Alamo Dam  AZ Bill Williams USACE Flood control 1968 Alamo Lake 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".1,043,000 acre.ft
(1,286,500 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Bartlett Dam  AZ Verde USBR Flood control
Irrigation		 1939 Bartlett Lake 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".176,186 acre.ft
(217,318 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Coolidge Dam  AZ Gila BIA Flood control
Irrigation		 1930 San Carlos Lake 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".910,000 acre.ft
(1,122,400 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Horse Mesa Dam  AZ Salt USBR Hydropower
Regulation		 1927 Apache Lake 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".245,138 acre.ft
(302,367 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0129.&&&&&0129 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".126,900
Horseshoe Dam  AZ Verde USBR Flood control
Regulation		 1946 Horseshoe Lake 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".131,500 acre.ft
(162,200 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Mormon Flat Dam  AZ Salt USBR Hydropower
Regulation		 1925 Canyon Lake 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".57,852 acre.ft
(71,358 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&&060.&&&&&060 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".65,400
New Waddell Dam  AZ Agua Fria USBR Irrigation
Municipal		 1994 Lake Pleasant 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".1,108,600 acre.ft
(1,367,409 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&&045.&&&&&045 ?
Painted Rock Dam  AZ Gila USACE Flood control 1960 Painted Rock Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".2,491,700 acre.ft
(3,073,400 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Sand Hollow Dam  UT Offstream WCWCD Irrigation
Municipal		 2002 Sand Hollow Reservoir 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".51,360 acre.ft
(63,350 dam3)		 N/A N/A
Stewart Mountain Dam  AZ Salt USBR Hydropower
Regulation		 1930 Saguaro Lake 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".69,765 acre.ft
(86,052 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&&013.&&&&&013 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".57,700
Theodore Roosevelt Dam  AZ Salt USBR Flood control
Hydropower
Irrigation
Municipal
 1911 Theodore Roosevelt Lake 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".2,910,200 acre.ft
(3,589,600 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&&036.&&&&&036 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".123,900
Total 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".9,195,301 acre.ft
(11,342,000 dam3)		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0283.&&&&&0283 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".373,900
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List of dams in the Colorado River system Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.