Manitou
Manitou is an earth dam located in El Paso County, Colorado, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Manitou
The primary purpose of Manitou 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 City Of Manitou Springs (mills, Russ) (local government). It impounds the North Fork French Creek near Cascade.
The dam stands 124 feet tall and stretches 519 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 27 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1971, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 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 06/01/2022.
At 124 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Cascade |
| River/Stream | North Fork French Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.87668, -104.99362 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 124 ft |
| Dam Height | 123 ft |
| Dam Length | 519 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 27 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 15,900 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF MANITOU SPRINGS (MILLS, RUSS) |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/01/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00426 |
| Federal ID | CO00426 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |