List of dams in the Colorado River system - wikipedia List of dams in the Colorado River system 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 dam ), 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 Contents 1 Main stem 2 Upper Basin 3 Lower Basin 4 Notes 5 References Main stem Parker Dam ( AZ - CA ) Hoover Dam ( AZ - NV ) Glen Canyon Dam ( AZ ) Grand Valley Diversion Dam ( CO ) Granby Dam ( CO ) 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 7005160000000000000 ♠ 160,000 acre. ft ( 197,400 dam ) 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 7001195000000000000 ♠ 19.5 ? Parker Dam AZ CA USBR Hydropower Irrigation Municipal 1938 Lake Havasu 7005646200000000000 ♠ 646,200 acre. ft ( 797,100 dam ) 7002120000000000000 ♠ 120 7005456944000000000 ♠ 456,944 Davis Dam AZ NV USBR Hydropower Regulation 1951 Lake Mohave 7006181830000000000 ♠ 1,818,300 acre. ft ( 2,242,800 dam ) 7002255000000000000 ♠ 255 7006114767300000000 ♠ 1,147,673 Hoover Dam AZ NV USBR Flood control Hydropower Irrigation Municipal Regulation 1936 Lake Mead 7007289450000000000 ♠ 28,945,000 acre. ft ( 35,702,400 dam ) 7003207900000000000 ♠ 2,079 7006380693500000000 ♠ 3,806,935 Glen Canyon Dam AZ USBR Hydropower Regulation 1966 Lake Powell 7007262149000000000 ♠ 26,214,900 acre. ft ( 32,334,900 dam ) 7003129600000000000 ♠ 1,296 7006345484700000000 ♠ 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 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3 7004193500000000000 ♠ 19,350 Windy Gap Dam CO Northern Water Irrigation Municipal 1970 Windy Gap Reservoir 7002445000000000000 ♠ 445 acre. ft ( 549 dam ) N / A N / A Granby Dam CO USBR Irrigation Municipal 1950 Lake Granby 7005539800000000000 ♠ 539,800 acre. ft ( 665,800 dam ) N / A N / A Shadow Mountain Dam CO USBR Irrigation Municipal 1946 Shadow Mountain Lake 7004184000000000000 ♠ 18,400 acre. ft ( 22,700 dam ) N / A N / A Total 7007583430450000000 ♠ 58,343,045 acre. ft ( 71,963,595 dam ) 7003377250000000000 ♠ 3,772.5 7006888574900000000 ♠ 8,885,749 Upper Basin Blue Mesa Dam ( CO ) Fontenelle Dam ( WY ) Green Mountain Dam ( CO ) McPhee Dam ( CO ) Navajo Dam ( NM ) 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 7005940700000000000 ♠ 940,700 acre. ft ( 1,160,300 dam ) 7001864000000000000 ♠ 86.4 7005203412000000000 ♠ 203,412 Dillon Dam CO Blue Denver Water Irrigation Municipal 1963 Dillon Reservoir 7005257304000000000 ♠ 257,304 acre. ft ( 317,373 dam ) 7000180000000000000 ♠ 1.8 ? Flaming Gorge Dam UT Green USBR Flood control Hydropower Regulation 1964 Flaming Gorge Reservoir 7006378870000000000 ♠ 3,788,700 acre. ft ( 4,673,200 dam ) 7002153000000000000 ♠ 153 7005344369000000000 ♠ 344,369 Fontenelle Dam WY Green USBR Flood control Irrigation 1964 Fontenelle Reservoir 7005345360000000000 ♠ 345,360 acre. ft ( 426,990 dam ) 7001100000000000000 ♠ 10 7004670430000000000 ♠ 67,043 Green Mountain Dam CO Blue USBR Hydropower Regulation 1943 Green Mountain Reservoir 7005153639000000000 ♠ 153,639 acre. ft ( 189,507 dam ) 7001216000000000000 ♠ 21.6 7004602280000000000 ♠ 60,228 Joes Valley Dam UT Seely Cr. USBR Irrigation Municipal 1966 Joes Valley Reservoir 7004549200000000000 ♠ 54,920 acre. ft ( 67,740 dam ) N / A N / A McPhee Dam CO Dolores USBR Flood control Irrigation 1984 McPhee Reservoir 7005381195000000000 ♠ 381,195 acre. ft ( 470,187 dam ) 7000128300000099999 ♠ 1.283 7003533500000000000 ♠ 5,335 Morrow Point Dam CO Gunnison USBR Hydropower 1968 Morrow Point Reservoir 7005117190000000000 ♠ 117,190 acre. ft ( 144,550 dam ) 7002173334000000000 ♠ 173.334 7005292887000000000 ♠ 292,887 Navajo Dam NM San Juan USBR Flood control Irrigation Municipal Regulation 1962 Navajo Lake 7006170860000000000 ♠ 1,708,600 acre. ft ( 2,107,500 dam ) 7001320000000000000 ♠ 32 7005215000000000000 ♠ 215,000 Ridges Basin Dam CO Offstream USBR Irrigation 2007 Lake Nighthorse 7005120000000000000 ♠ 120,000 acre. ft ( 148,000 dam ) N / A N / A Ridgway Dam CO Uncompahgre USBR Flood control Irrigation Ridgway Reservoir 7004844100000000000 ♠ 84,410 acre. ft ( 104,120 dam ) N / A N / A Ruedi Dam CO Fryingpan USBR Irrigation Municipal 1968 Ruedi Reservoir 7005102000000000000 ♠ 102,000 acre. ft ( 125,800 dam ) N / A N / A Scofield Dam UT Price USBR Irrigation Municipal 1946 Scofield Reservoir 7004736000000000000 ♠ 73,600 acre. ft ( 90,780 dam ) N / A N / A Soldier Creek Dam UT Strawberry USBR Irrigation Municipal Strawberry Reservoir 7006112761000000000 ♠ 1,127,610 acre. ft ( 1,390,860 dam ) N / A N / A Starvation Dam UT Strawberry USBR Irrigation 1970 Starvation Reservoir 7005167300000000000 ♠ 167,300 acre. ft ( 206,400 dam ) N / A N / A Taylor Park Dam CO Taylor USBR Irrigation 1937 Taylor Park Reservoir 7005106200000000000 ♠ 106,200 acre. ft ( 130,990 dam ) N / A N / A Vallecito Dam CO Los Pinos River USBR Irrigation 1941 Vallecito Reservoir 7005129700000000000 ♠ 129,700 acre. ft ( 160,000 dam ) N / A N / A Vega Dam CO Plateau Creek USBR Irrigation 1959 Vega Reservoir 7004338000000000000 ♠ 33,800 acre. ft ( 41,691 dam ) N / A N / A Williams Fork Dam CO Williams Fork Denver Water Irrigation Municipal 1959 Williams Fork Reservoir 7004968220000000000 ♠ 96,822 acre. ft ( 119,426 dam ) 7000315800000000000 ♠ 3.158 ? Wolford Mountain Dam CO Muddy Cr. CRWCD Irrigation Municipal Wolford Mountain Reservoir 7004660000000000000 ♠ 66,000 acre. ft ( 81,400 dam ) N / A N / A Total 7006982125000000000 ♠ 9,821,250 acre. ft ( 12,114,080 dam ) 7002482575000000000 ♠ 482.575 7006118827400000000 ♠ 1,188,274 Lower Basin Bartlett Dam ( AZ ) Mormon Flat Dam ( AZ ) New Waddell Dam ( AZ ) Painted Rock Dam ( AZ ) Theodore Roosevelt Dam ( AZ ) 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 7006104300000000000 ♠ 1,043,000 acre. ft ( 1,286,500 dam ) N / A N / A Bartlett Dam AZ Verde USBR Flood control Irrigation 1939 Bartlett Lake 7005176186000000000 ♠ 176,186 acre. ft ( 217,318 dam ) N / A N / A Coolidge Dam AZ Gila BIA Flood control Irrigation 1930 San Carlos Lake 7005910000000000000 ♠ 910,000 acre. ft ( 1,122,400 dam ) N / A N / A Horse Mesa Dam AZ Salt USBR Hydropower Regulation 1927 Apache Lake 7005245138000000000 ♠ 245,138 acre. ft ( 302,367 dam ) 7002129000000000000 ♠ 129 7005126900000000000 ♠ 126,900 Horseshoe Dam AZ Verde USBR Flood control Regulation 1946 Horseshoe Lake 7005131500000000000 ♠ 131,500 acre. ft ( 162,200 dam ) N / A N / A Mormon Flat Dam AZ Salt USBR Hydropower Regulation 1925 Canyon Lake 7004578520000000000 ♠ 57,852 acre. ft ( 71,358 dam ) 7001600000000000000 ♠ 60 7004654000000000000 ♠ 65,400 New Waddell Dam AZ Agua Fria USBR Irrigation Municipal Lake Pleasant 7006110860000000000 ♠ 1,108,600 acre. ft ( 1,367,409 dam ) 7001450000000000000 ♠ 45 ? Painted Rock Dam AZ Gila USACE Flood control 1960 Painted Rock Reservoir 7006249170000000000 ♠ 2,491,700 acre. ft ( 3,073,400 dam ) N / A N / A Sand Hollow Dam UT Offstream WCWCD Irrigation Municipal 2002 Sand Hollow Reservoir 7004513600000000000 ♠ 51,360 acre. ft ( 63,350 dam ) N / A N / A Stewart Mountain Dam AZ Salt USBR Hydropower Regulation 1930 Saguaro Lake 7004697650000000000 ♠ 69,765 acre. ft ( 86,052 dam ) 7001130000000000000 ♠ 13 7004577000000000000 ♠ 57,700 Theodore Roosevelt Dam AZ Salt USBR Flood control Hydropower Irrigation Municipal 1911 Theodore Roosevelt Lake 7006291020000000000 ♠ 2,910,200 acre. ft ( 3,589,600 dam ) 7001360000000000000 ♠ 36 7005123900000000000 ♠ 123,900 Total 7006919530100000000 ♠ 9,195,301 acre. ft ( 11,342,000 dam ) 7002283000000000000 ♠ 283 7005373900000000000 ♠ 373,900 Notes Jump up ^ Reservoir capacity given is the original capacity in 1938 before siltation. Jump up ^ Palisade County Irrigation District Jump up ^ Mesa County Irrigation District Jump up ^ Dam went out of operation in 1919 after the completion of the Grand Valley Diversion Dam upstream, but remains in place Jump up ^ Annual power generation calculated from a power station hydraulic head of 381.6 ft ( 116.3 m ) and average annual flow of 1,082 cu ft / s ( 30.6 m / s ) in the San Juan River below the dam, 1963 -- 2012. Jump up ^ Colorado River Water Conservation District Jump up ^ Annual generation calculated from a hydraulic head of 255 ft ( 78 m ) and an average Salt River flow of 962 cu ft / s ( 27.2 m / s ). Jump up ^ Annual generation calculated from a hydraulic head of 131.5 ft ( 40.1 m ) and an average Salt River flow of 962 cu ft / s ( 27.2 m / s ). Jump up ^ Washington County Water Conservation District Jump up ^ Annual generation calculated from a hydraulic head of 116 ft ( 35 m ) and an average Salt River flow of 962 cu ft / s ( 27.2 m / s ). Jump up ^ Annual generation calculated from a hydraulic head of 249 ft ( 76 m ) and an average Salt River flow of 962 cu ft / s ( 27.2 m / s ). References Jump up ^ http://www.ibwc.state.gov/Water_Data/Colorado/Index.html Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Laguna+Diversion+Dam Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Imperial+Diversion+Dam&groupName=General Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Palo+Verde+Diversion+Dam Jump up ^ http://www.waterrights.ca.gov/IID/IIDHearingData/LocalPublish/CRIT4.pdf Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/HeadgateReport.pdf Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Parker+Dam Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Davis+Dam Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Powerplant.jsp?fac_Name=Davis%20Powerplant Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Hoover+Dam Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Powerplant.jsp?fac_Name=Hoover%20Powerplant Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Glen+Canyon+Dam&groupName=Overview Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Powerplant.jsp?fac_Name=Glen%20Canyon%20Powerplant Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/uc/wcao/envprog/pdfs/PriceStubbFP-ba.pdf Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Grand+Valley+Project Jump up ^ http://www.northernwater.org/WaterProjects/WindyGapProject.aspx Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Granby%20Dam Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Shadow+Mountain+Dam&groupName=Overview Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Blue%20Mesa%20Dam Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2013 - 10 - 26. Retrieved 2013 - 10 - 27. Jump up ^ http://www.waterpowermagazine.com/features/featuresteely-dam-repair-work-at-dillion-spillway Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Flaming+Gorge+Dam&groupName=General Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Fontenelle%20Dam Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Green+Mountain+Dam&groupName=Overview Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Powerplant.jsp?fac_Name=Green%20Mountain%20Powerplant Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Joes+Valley+Dam&groupName=Overview Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=McPhee+Dam Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Powerplant.jsp?fac_Name=McPhee%20Powerplant Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Morrow+Point+Dam Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Powerplant.jsp?fac_Name=Morrow%20Point%20Powerplant Jump up ^ http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2012/pdfs/09355500.2012.pdf Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/crsp/navajo/index.html Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/newsrelease/detail.cfm?RecordID=19521 Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Ridgway%20Dam Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Fryingpan-Arkansas%20Project Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Scofield%20Dam Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Soldier+Creek+Dam&groupName=Overview Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Starvation+Dam Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Uncompahgre%20Project Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Vallecito+Dam&groupName=Overview Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Vega+Dam&groupName=General Jump up ^ http://www.denverwater.org/Recreation/WilliamsFork/ Jump up ^ http://www.crwcd.org/page_21 Jump up ^ http://www.azwater.gov/azdwr/StatewidePlanning/RuralPrograms/OutsideAMAs_PDFs_for_web/Upper_Colorado_River_Planning_Area/Bill_Williams_Watershed.pdf Jump up ^ http://www.srpnet.com/water/dams/bartlett.aspx Jump up ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20011031185425/http://www.usbr.gov/cdams/dams/coolidge.html ^ Jump up to : http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2012/pdfs/09502000.2012.pdf Jump up ^ http://www.srpnet.com/water/dams/horsemesa.aspx Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Horseshoe+Dam&groupName=Overview Jump up ^ http://www.srpnet.com/water/dams/mormon.aspx Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=New+Waddell+Dam&groupName=Overview ^ Jump up to : http://www.crrel.usace.army.mil/library/specialreports/SR99_06.pdf Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Stewart+Mountain+Dam Jump up ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Theodore+Roosevelt+Dam&groupName=Overview Colorado River system Jurisdictions United States Arizona California Colorado Nevada New Mexico Utah Wyoming Mexico Baja California Sonora Canyons Byers Canyon Gore Canyon Red Gorge Glenwood Canyon De Beque Canyon Horsethief Canyon Ruby Canyon Westwater Canyon Cataract Canyon Narrow Canyon Glen Canyon Grand Canyon Marble Canyon Granite Gorge Middle Granite Gorge Lower Granite Gorge Grand Wash Canyon Iceberg Canyon Virgin Canyon Boulder Canyon Black Canyon Pyramid Canyon Mohave Canyon Natural features River course Rocky Mountains Colorado River Basin Colorado Plateau Grand Lake Horseshoe Bend Sonoran Desert Mojave Desert Lower Colorado River Valley Mohave Valley Parker Valley Palo Verde Valley Colorado Desert Alamo River New River Salton Sea Imperial Valley Delta Montague Island Gulf of California / Sea of Cortez Tributaries Blue River Dirty Devil River Dolores River Escalante River Eagle River Fraser River Gila River Green River Gunnison River Kanab Creek Little Colorado River Paria River Roaring Fork River San Juan River Thunder River / Tapeats Creek Virgin River Las Vegas Wash Williams Fork Río Hardy Engineering Mainstem dams Shadow Mountain Granby Windy Gap Grand Valley Price - Stubb Glen Canyon Hoover Davis Parker Headgate Rock Palo Verde Imperial Laguna Morelos Major reservoirs Fontenelle Reservoir Flaming Gorge Reservoir Blue Mesa Reservoir Navajo Lake Lake Powell Lake Mead Lake Mohave Lake Havasu Imperial Reservoir Theodore Roosevelt Lake San Carlos Lake Aqueducts and canals Grand Ditch Colorado River Aqueduct San Diego Aqueduct Central Arizona Project All - American Canal Coachella Canal Water projects Boulder Canyon Project Colorado - Big Thompson Project Colorado River Storage Project Grand Valley AVA Yuma Project Designated areas Arches National Park Canyonlands National Park Colorado National Monument Dead Horse Point State Park Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Grand Canyon National Park Lake Mead National Recreation Area Rocky Mountain National Park Related topics Arizona v. California Colorado River Board of California Colorado River Compact Floyd Dominy Lee 's Ferry International Boundary and Water Commission Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Rapids and features U.S. Bureau of Reclamation William Mulholland Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_dams_in_the_Colorado_River_system&oldid=781426326 '' Categories : Dams in the Colorado River basin Lists of dams in the United States Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 21 May 2017, at 05 : 03. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: how many dams are in the colorado river
Answer: fifteen dams on the main stem of the Colorado