Lake Moraine
Lake Moraine is an earth dam located in El Paso County, Colorado, built in 1891. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Moraine
The primary purpose of Lake Moraine 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 Colorado Springs Utilities (local government). It impounds the Ruxton Creek near Manitou Springs.
The dam stands 55 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 77 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,150 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1891, 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 07/21/2022.
At 55 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 | El Paso |
| Nearest City | Manitou Springs |
| River/Stream | Ruxton Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.81500, -104.99390 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1891 (135 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,150 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,150 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,250 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 77 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 10,120 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/21/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00901 |
| Federal ID | CO00901 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |