Human and Social Impacts of the Lawn Lake Dam Failure of 1982

ABSTRACT ONLY - In 1982, the Lawn Lake Dam failed, sending a flood of water down the Roaring River Valley in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Lawn Lake Dam was a 26-foot-tall, earthen dam constructed in 1903. A leak from the outlet pipe and valve connection caused piping to occur within the embankment. The piping resulted in instability of the embankment, and the dam failed in a sudden collapse, quickly releasing the reservoir contents. The resulting flood wave caused considerable damage to the National Park landscape and to the Town of Estes. Areas in the Roaring River Valley had erosion up to 50 feet deep. The flood deposited a large number of boulders in a massive alluvial fan that has become a landmark in the park. Three people perished in the flood.
The Lawn Lake Dam Failure resulted in lasting human and social impacts. The dam was not reconstructed, and the irrigation company that once owned the dam no longer exists. The Town of Estes Park suffered extensive flood damage. The event was declared a presidential disaster. The total damage from the flood was estimated at $31 million (1982 value).
In the year following the dam failure, the Colorado Dam Safety Branch was strongly questioned by federal, state, and local officials, victims of the disaster, editorialists, and even the Colorado General Assembly. The inquiries resulted in a strengthening of the dam safety program. Modifications were made to the approach of dam inspections, and four State engineers were added to aid the existing seven engineers in dam inspections across Colorado.
The National Parks Service worked to acquire and remove four other dams located in the Rocky Mountain National Park over the course of eight years following the event. The National Parks Service increased focused on dam safety, such as dam repair projects and development of Emergency Action Plans.
This presentation will include first hand interviews and videos of news coverage during the flood. Lawn Lake is story that should continue to be told so that future generations can learn from the human and social impacts.