Teller
Teller is an earth dam located in Pueblo County, Colorado, built in 1908. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Teller
The primary purpose of Teller is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Fort Carson (federal). It impounds the Turkey Creek near Pueblo.
The dam stands 85 feet tall and stretches 650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 183 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,530 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 78 square miles. Completed in 1908, 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 05/19/2021.
At 85 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Pueblo |
| Nearest City | Pueblo |
| River/Stream | Turkey Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.44199, -104.82682 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 85 ft |
| Dam Height | 85 ft |
| Dam Length | 650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1908 (118 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,530 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,530 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 78 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 183 acres |
| Drainage Area | 78 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 85,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Fort Carson |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/19/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00902 |
| Federal ID | CO00902 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |