Crystal Creek
Crystal Creek is an earth dam located in El Paso County, Colorado, built in 1934. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Crystal Creek
The primary purpose of Crystal Creek is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Colorado Springs Utilities (local government). It impounds the Crystal Creek near Green Mt Falls.
The dam stands 133 feet tall and stretches 790 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 136 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1934, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/09/2022.
At 133 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Colorado dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | El Paso |
| Nearest City | Green Mt Falls |
| River/Stream | Crystal Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.92000, -105.02390 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 133 ft |
| Dam Height | 90 ft |
| Dam Length | 790 ft |
| Year Completed | 1934 (92 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,479 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 136 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,540 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/09/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00410 |
| Federal ID | CO00410 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |