Stagecoach Dam, Gravity dam in Routt County, Colorado, US
Stagecoach Dam is a concrete gravity structure in Routt County that rises 145 feet (44 meters) high and stretches 360 feet (110 meters) across the Yampa River. The impoundment behind it holds roughly 33,700 acre-feet (41.5 million cubic meters) of water for irrigation and municipal supply.
The Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District began construction in 1983 and completed the project in 1989. The build happened remarkably fast and served to secure water resources for the growing needs of the region.
The name comes from the old stagecoach routes that once wound through Yellow Jacket Pass, connecting the towns of Oak Creek and Steamboat Springs. Today, the reservoir sits in a landscape shaped by ranching and outdoor recreation that locals know well.
The dam operates a hydroelectric power station producing roughly 800 kilowatts of electricity for the region. The water it stores serves both farmland and towns across the area, making it essential for local supply needs.
The structure uses roller-compacted concrete, a special technique that makes it strong and easy to maintain over time. This construction method was innovative for dam building when the project finished in the late 1980s.
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