Big Tooth
Big Tooth is a rockfill dam located in El Paso County, Colorado, built in 1927. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Big Tooth
The primary purpose of Big Tooth 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 South Ruxton Creek near Manitou Springs.
The dam stands 102 feet tall and stretches 650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 810 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1927, 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 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 07/21/2022.
At 102 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 | Manitou Springs |
| River/Stream | South Ruxton Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.82945, -104.97084 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 102 ft |
| Dam Height | 90 ft |
| Dam Length | 650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1927 (99 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 810 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 810 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 277 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,655 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/21/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00445 |
| Federal ID | CO00445 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |