Nichols is an earth dam located in El Paso County, Colorado, built in 1929. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 57 ft57 ft tall and 425 ft long, taller than 94% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Nichols
The primary purpose of Nichols 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 West Monument Creek near Colorado Springs.
The dam stands 57 feet tall and stretches 425 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 21 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 625 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1929, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/23/2018.
At 57 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | El Paso |
| Nearest City | Colorado Springs |
| River/Stream | West Monument Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.97168, -104.95058 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Length | 425 ft |
| Year Completed | 1929 (97 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 625 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 625 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 415 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,505 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Colorado Springs Utilities |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 08/23/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01313 |
| Federal ID | CO01313 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |