Vallecito Dam
| Vallecito Dam | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Location | La Plata County, Colorado |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1940 |
| Built by | United States Bureau of Reclamation |
| Designed by | Civilian Conservation Corps |
| Operator(s) | Civilian Conservation Corps |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Height | 162 ft (49 m) |
| Length | 4,010 ft (1,220 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 125,400 acre⋅ft (154,700,000 m3) |
| Surface area | 4.3 sq mi (11 km2) |
| Normal elevation | 2,338 m (7,671 ft) |
Vallecito Dam (National ID # CO01695) is a dam in La Plata County, Colorado about 18 miles (29 km) northeast of Durango.
Trees were cleared for the reservoir by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The earthen dam was constructed in 1940 by the United States Bureau of Reclamation, with a height of 162 feet (49 m), and a length at its crest of 4,010 feet (1,220 m). It impounds the Los Pinos River for irrigation water storage. The dam is owned by the Bureau and is operated by the local Pine River Irrigation District.
The reservoir it creates, Vallecito Reservoir, has a water surface of 4.3 square miles (11 km2) and a maximum capacity of 125,400 acre-feet (154,700,000 m3). Recreational opportunities include fishing, hunting, boating, camping and hiking.