South Catamount
South Catamount is an earth dam located in Teller County, Colorado, built in 1935. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About South Catamount
The primary purpose of South Catamount 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 Catamount Creek near Green Mt Falls.
The dam stands 100 feet tall and stretches 1,156 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 98 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,975 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1935, 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 100 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 | Teller |
| Nearest City | Green Mt Falls |
| River/Stream | South Catamount Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.92667, -105.04890 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 100 ft |
| Dam Height | 100 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,156 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,975 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,975 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,604 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 98 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,582 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 | CO00408 |
| Federal ID | CO00408 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |