John Townsend
John Townsend is an earth dam located in El Paso County, Colorado, built in 1885. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About John Townsend
The primary purpose of John Townsend is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Fort Carson (federal). It impounds the Spring Branch Pond near Fountain.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 470 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 303 acre-feet. Completed in 1885, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/19/2021.
At 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Fountain |
| River/Stream | Spring Branch Pond |
| Coordinates | 38.68195, -104.80316 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Length | 470 ft |
| Year Completed | 1885 (141 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 303 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 303 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 220 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
| Max Discharge | 285 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Fort Carson |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/19/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01292 |
| Federal ID | CO01292 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |