Comanche
Comanche is an earth dam located in Pueblo County, Colorado, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Comanche
The primary purpose of Comanche 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 Xcel Energy (public utility). It impounds the St. Charles River-os near Pueblo.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 4,801 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 35 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,148 acre-feet. Completed in 1972, 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 09/14/2021.
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 | Pueblo |
| Nearest City | Pueblo |
| River/Stream | St. Charles River-os |
| Coordinates | 38.20168, -104.57723 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,801 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,148 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,148 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 853 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
| Max Discharge | 70 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | XCEL ENERGY |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/14/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00487 |
| Federal ID | CO00487 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |