Rainbow is an earth dam located in El Paso County, Colorado, built in 1930. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 88 ft long, taller than 55% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Rainbow
The primary purpose of Rainbow is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Colorado Springs Flycasting Club (simpson, Nick) (private). It impounds the South Beaver Creek near Colorado Springs.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 88 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 156 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1930, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 09/05/2018.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | El Paso |
| Nearest City | Colorado Springs |
| River/Stream | South Beaver Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.02167, -104.98391 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 88 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 156 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 156 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 96 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,140 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Colorado Springs Flycasting Club (simpson, Nick) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/05/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00442 |
| Federal ID | CO00442 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |