Big Lick Irrigation is a privately owned earth dam located in Rio Blanco, Colorado, designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1968.
Wind
Humidity
The dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and small fish pond maintenance. With a height of 25 feet and a hydraulic height of 28 feet, it has a storage capacity of 459 acre-feet and a surface area of 28 acres.
Managed by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, Big Lick Irrigation is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a spillway width of 17 feet and a maximum discharge of 624 cubic feet per second. The dam's hazard potential is categorized as low, with a fair condition assessment as of August 2016.
Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, Big Lick Irrigation provides essential water resource management for the area, contributing to fire protection, livestock maintenance, and small-scale fisheries. The dam's infrastructure, design, and regulatory oversight ensure its continued functionality and safety for the community it serves.
Year Completed |
1968 |
Dam Length |
157 |
Dam Height |
25 |
River Or Stream |
BIG BEAVER CR-TR |
Primary Dam Type |
Earth |
Surface Area |
28 |
Hydraulic Height |
28 |
Nid Storage |
459 |
Structural Height |
35 |
Hazard Potential |
Low |
Nid Height |
35 |
White River Below North Elk Creek Near Buford
|
204cfs |
White River Above Coal Creek
|
228cfs |
White River Near Meeker
|
269cfs |
White River Below Meeker
|
274cfs |
Yampa River Below Craig
|
163cfs |
Piceance Creek At White River
|
18cfs |
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
East Marvine Campground
|
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East Marvine
|
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Marvine Campground
|
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Marvine
|
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South Fork Campground & Trailhead
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