Nichols dam
Nichols
Nichols, also known as Northfield #4, is a key water resource located in El Paso County, Colorado, specifically in the city of Colorado Springs. This dam, completed in 1929, serves primarily for water supply purposes and has a maximum storage capacity of 625 acre-feet. The dam, standing at 56 feet tall with a length of 425 feet, holds back the waters of the West Monument Creek, providing essential water resources to the surrounding areas.
Managed by the local government, Nichols Dam is regulated and inspected by the Colorado Division of Water Resources to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the condition of the dam is assessed as fair, with the last inspection conducted in August 2018. The emergency action plan for the dam is in place, although it has not been updated recently, and the risk assessment for the dam is moderate, indicating the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential risks.
Overall, Nichols Dam plays a crucial role in water supply and recreation in the region, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource management and infrastructure maintenance in the face of changing climate conditions. With its historical significance and functional purpose, Nichols Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management, climate resilience, and community well-being in 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 Nichols -- 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 | → |
| Fountain Creek At Cascade | 68 cfs | → |
| Waldo Canyon Abv Mouth Near Manitou Springs | · | → |
| Williams Canyon Abv Mouth Near Manitou Springs | 0 cfs | → |
| Monument C Ab N.Gate Blvd At Usaf Academy | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nichols.
Boat launches
Fishing spots
- Nichols Reservoir
- Homestake Fishing Site
- Rampart Reservoir
- Deadmans Creek
- Crystal Creek Reservoir
- South Catamount Reservoir
Track Nichols 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 Nichols
Where does the data for Nichols 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 Nichols.