Calahan dam
Calahan
Calahan, located in El Paso County, Colorado, is a privately owned dam designed by the USDA NRCS for irrigation purposes. Completed in 1963, this earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet and has a storage capacity of 679 acre-feet, serving the needs of the surrounding area for fire protection, stock watering, and small fish ponds. The dam spans a length of 1880 feet and has a spillway width of 128 feet to manage potential excess water flow.
Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, Calahan is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite being classified as having low hazard potential, its condition is assessed as fair, with a moderate risk level of 3. The last inspection in September 2018 highlighted the need for regular monitoring and maintenance to uphold its functionality and to mitigate any potential risks associated with its operations.
With a moderate risk assessment and the potential to impact the Fountain River, Calahan serves as a vital resource for water management in the region. Its historical significance, combined with its practical applications, underscores the importance of sustained oversight and maintenance to ensure the continued efficacy of this essential infrastructure in the face of evolving climate conditions and water resource management challenges.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Calahan -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fountain Creek Near Fountain | 95 cfs | → |
| Jimmy Camp Creek At Fountain | 1 cfs | → |
| Little Fountain Creek Near Fountain | 0 cfs | → |
| Fountain Creek At Security | 65 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Above Fort Carson Reservation | 0 cfs | → |
| Sand Creek Above Mouth At Colorado Springs | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Calahan.
Campgrounds
- Cheyenne Mountain State Park
- Turkey Creek Military - Fort Carson
- Wye
- Skagware Reservoir Dispersed Camping
- Juniper Breaks - Lake Pueblo State Park
- Kettle Creek Campground
Fishing spots
- Willow Springs Ponds
- Quail Lake
- Prospect Lake (Colorado Springs)
- Teller Reservoir
- Rosemont Reservoir
- Pikeview Reservoir
Paddle runs
Track Calahan in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Calahan
Where does the data for Calahan come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Calahan.