| Rifle Gap Dam | |
| Coordinates: | 39.6281°N -107.7595°W |
| Country: | United States |
| Location: | Garfield County, Colorado |
| Status: | Operational |
| Construction Began: | 1964 |
| Opening: | 1967 |
| Builder: | United States Bureau of Reclamation |
| Designed By: | United States Bureau of Reclamation |
| Operator: | Silt Water Conservancy District |
| Dam Height: | 157feet |
| Dam Length: | 1450feet |
| Res Name: | Rifle Gap Reservoir |
| Res Capacity Total: | 12168acre.ft |
| Res Surface: | 359acres |
| Res Elevation: | 1818m (5,965feet) |
Rifle Gap Dam (National ID # CO01692) is a dam in Garfield County, Colorado, about five and a half miles north of Rifle.[1]
The earthen dam was constructed between 1964 and 1967 by the United States Bureau of Reclamation, with a height of and a length of feet at its crest.[2] It impounds East Rifle Creek and West Rifle Creek about feet upstream from their previous point of confluence. The dam was built for irrigation water storage, is owned by the Bureau, and is operated by the local Silt Water Conservancy District.
The reservoir it creates, Rifle Gap Reservoir, has a water surface of 359acres and a maximum capacity of 12168acre.ft. Recreation includes scuba diving in its clear water, fishing (for rainbow and German brown trout, walleye, perch, and smallmouth and largemouth bass, etc.), wildlife watching, boating, year-round camping, and hiking.[3]