St. Charles #3
St. Charles #3 is an earth dam located in Pueblo County, Colorado, built in 1913. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About St. Charles #3
The primary purpose of St. Charles #3 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 Evraz Inc. (zerfas, Brad) (private). It impounds the Salt Creek near Pueblo.
The dam stands 53 feet tall and stretches 8,736 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 633 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,940 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 22 square miles. Completed in 1913, the structure is over a century 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/16/2021.
At 53 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 | Pueblo |
| Nearest City | Pueblo |
| River/Stream | Salt Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.17001, -104.65057 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Length | 8,736 ft |
| Year Completed | 1913 (113 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,940 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,940 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,638 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 633 acres |
| Drainage Area | 22 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 30,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | EVRAZ INC. (ZERFAS, BRAD) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/16/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00493 |
| Federal ID | CO00493 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |