Monument Lake is an earth dam located in El Paso County, Colorado, built in 1893. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 47 ft47 ft tall and 851 ft long, taller than 91% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Monument Lake
The primary purpose of Monument Lake is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Town of Monument (local government). It impounds the Monument Creek near Monument.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 851 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 31 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 922 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 30 square miles. Completed in 1893, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 05/14/2021.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | El Paso |
| Nearest City | Monument |
| River/Stream | Monument Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.09001, -104.87890 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 851 ft |
| Year Completed | 1893 (133 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 922 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 922 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 305 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 31 acres |
| Drainage Area | 30 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 21,849 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Town of Monument |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/14/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00429 |
| Federal ID | CO00429 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |