South Suburban
South Suburban is an earth dam located in El Paso County, Colorado, built in 1932. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About South Suburban
The primary purpose of South Suburban 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 North Cheyenne Creek-os near Colorado Springs.
The dam stands 55 feet tall and stretches 1,805 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 303 acre-feet. Completed in 1932, 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 04/21/2022.
At 55 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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 | Colorado Springs |
| River/Stream | North Cheyenne Creek-os |
| Coordinates | 38.79640, -104.86390 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,805 ft |
| Year Completed | 1932 (94 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 303 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 303 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 231 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Max Discharge | 17 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 | 04/21/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00428 |
| Federal ID | CO00428 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |