Banning Lewis #1 dam
Banning Lewis #1
Banning Lewis #1, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1888 for flood risk reduction along the East Fork Sand Creek. With a height of 30 feet and a length of 750 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, or small fish pond, in addition to flood risk reduction. Despite its age, the dam has a low hazard potential and is currently not rated for its condition.
Although last inspected in 1998, with a scheduled inspection frequency of 6 years, Banning Lewis #1 is under state regulation with permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes in place. The dam has a maximum discharge rate of 2,645 cubic feet per second and a spillway width of 90 feet. While it presents a high risk due to its age and lack of recent assessments, the dam remains an essential structure for managing water resources and climate-related challenges in the region.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Banning Lewis #1 a fascinating example of historic infrastructure designed to mitigate flood risks and support various water management purposes. As an integral component of the water system in El Paso County, this dam serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued effectiveness in protecting the surrounding community from potential hazards.
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 Banning Lewis #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Creek At Woodmen Rd Nr Colo Springs | 1 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood Ck At Union Blvd | 2 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood Creek At Mouth | 4 cfs | → |
| Monument Creek At Pikeview | 19 cfs | → |
| Pine Creek Abv Briargate Pkwy | 3 cfs | → |
| Monument Cr Abv Woodmen Rd At Colorado Springs | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Banning Lewis #1.
Campgrounds
- Peregrine Pines Family Camp
- Peregrine Pines Military - Usaf Academy
- Cheyenne Mountain State Park
- Thunder Ridge
- Wye
- Thunder Ridge Campground
Fishing spots
- Prospect Lake (Colorado Springs)
- Pikeview Reservoir
- Quail Lake
- Willow Springs Ponds
- Deadmans Creek
- Nichols Reservoir
Paddle runs
Track Banning Lewis #1 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 Banning Lewis #1
Where does the data for Banning Lewis #1 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 Banning Lewis #1.