Fountain Valley No 2
Fountain Valley No 2 is an earth dam located in El Paso County, Colorado, built in 1910. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Fountain Valley No 2
The primary purpose of Fountain Valley No 2 is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Fountain Mutual Irrigation Co. (private). It impounds the Fountain Creek-tr near Widefield.
The dam stands 69 feet tall and stretches 2,858 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 270 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,250 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1910, the structure is over a century old.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/25/2022.
At 69 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Widefield |
| River/Stream | Fountain Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 38.74834, -104.70057 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 69 ft |
| Dam Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,858 ft |
| Year Completed | 1910 (116 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,250 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,250 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,950 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 270 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,850 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | FOUNTAIN MUTUAL IRRIGATION CO. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/25/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00418 |
| Federal ID | CO00418 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |