Rampart
Rampart is an earth dam located in El Paso County, Colorado, built in 1970. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Rampart
The primary purpose of Rampart is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Colorado Springs, City Of (local government). It impounds the West Monument Creek near Colorado Springs.
The dam stands 250 feet tall and stretches 3,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 300 acres, has a storage capacity of 41,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1970, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 10/25/2022.
At 250 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Colorado Springs |
| River/Stream | West Monument Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.97501, -104.96110 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 250 ft |
| Dam Height | 230 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 41,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 41,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 300 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 11,145 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Colorado Springs, City of |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/25/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00434 |
| Federal ID | CO00434 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |