Rainbow dam
Rainbow
Rainbow is a privately owned dam located in El Paso, Colorado, near Colorado Springs. Built in 1930, the dam's primary purpose is recreation, offering visitors a chance to enjoy the scenic beauty of South Beaver Creek. With a height of 26 feet and a length of 88 feet, Rainbow has a storage capacity of 156 acre-feet and a drainage area of 5 square miles.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment, Rainbow is subject to state regulations and inspections to ensure its continued safety and functionality. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 40 feet, capable of handling a maximum discharge of 2140 cubic feet per second. The dam is situated within the jurisdiction of the Colorado Department of Water Resources, offering enthusiasts the opportunity to witness both the engineering marvel of the structure and the natural beauty that surrounds it.
Overall, Rainbow Dam presents a moderate risk level, with a risk assessment rating of 3 out of 5. While the dam has not been significantly modified since its completion, regular inspections are conducted to maintain its safety standards. With its picturesque location and recreational opportunities, Rainbow serves as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of water resource management and environmental stewardship in the state of Colorado.
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 Rainbow -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Monument Creek Below Rampart Reservoir | 4 cfs | → |
| West Monument Creek At Air Force Academy | 2 cfs | → |
| Monument C Ab N.Gate Blvd At Usaf Academy | 9 cfs | → |
| Monument Creek At Palmer Lake | 1 cfs | → |
| Fountain Creek At Cascade | 68 cfs | → |
| Waldo Canyon Abv Mouth Near Manitou Springs | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rainbow.
Boat launches
Fishing spots
- Rampart Reservoir
- Homestake Fishing Site
- Nichols Reservoir
- Upper Reservoir - Palmer Lake
- Monument Lake (El Paso County)
- Manitou Lake
Paddle runs
- Private Land To Confluence With Beaver Creek
- Beaver Creek To Cheeseman Reservoir
- Eleven Mile Canyon Dam To Private Land In Vicinity Of Lake George
- Cheeseman Dam To Wigman Club
- West Beaver Creek
- Fourmile Creek
More reservoirs
Track Rainbow 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 Rainbow
Where does the data for Rainbow 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 Rainbow.