Rio Grande Dam

{{short description|Dam in Hinsdale County, Colorado, United States}}

File:Rio Grande Dam 2.JPG

Rio Grande Dam is a dam in Hinsdale County, Colorado impounding the Rio Grande. Built between 1910 and 1914 by the San Luis Valley Irrigation District to store water for agriculture in the San Luis Valley, Rio Grande Dam is an earth and rock fill dam {{convert|111|ft|m|abbr=on}} high and {{convert|550|ft|m|abbr=on}} long.{{cite web

|url=http://deereault.com/dam-reservoir-design/rio-grande-reservoir.php

|title=Rio Grande Dam and Reservoir Rehabilitation

|publisher=Deere & Ault Consultants, Inc.

|date=

|accessdate=2013-06-13}} The dam impounds the Rio Grande Reservoir, with a capacity of {{convert|52000|acre feet|m3|abbr=on}}.{{cite web

|url=http://coyotegulch.wordpress.com/2011/08/20/rio-grande-riverr-basin-the-san-luis-valley-irrigation-district-is-looking-for-ways-to-fund-reservoir-repairs/

|title=Rio Grande River basin: The San Luis Valley Irrigation District is looking for ways to fund reservoir repairs

|work=Pueblo Chieftain

|author=Hildner, Matt

|date=2011-08-20

|accessdate=2013-06-13}}

The dam and reservoir are situated at an elevation of {{convert|9449|ft|m|abbr=on}} about {{convert|20|mi|km|abbr=on}} southwest of Creede, several miles below the headwaters of the Rio Grande.{{cite map

|publisher=ACME Mapper

|title=USGS Topo Maps for United States

|year=

|cartography=United States Geological Survey

|accessdate=2013-06-13

|url=http://mapper.acme.com/}}