John Townsend dam
John Townsend
John Townsend is a Federal-owned dam located in Fountain, Colorado, along the Spring Branch Pond. Built in 1885, this Earth-type dam stands at 46 feet high with a hydraulic height of 60 feet and a length of 470 feet. Its primary purpose is for recreation, with additional functions for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond. The dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment.
Managed by the US Army, John Townsend Dam has a normal storage capacity of 220 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 303 acre-feet. It is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources and undergoes regular state inspections, with the last one conducted in August 2016. While its condition assessment is not available, the dam meets state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements, ensuring the safety of its surrounding community.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, John Townsend Dam serves as an intriguing site for understanding the intersection of historical dam construction, recreational purposes, and risk management in the context of changing environmental conditions. Its location within El Paso County, Colorado, provides a unique opportunity to study the impact of climate change on water infrastructure in a region known for its natural beauty and outdoor activities. With its rich history and ongoing maintenance by the US Army, John Townsend Dam stands as a testament to the importance of responsible water resource management in the face of evolving environmental 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 John Townsend -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Creek Above Fort Carson Reservation | 0 cfs | → |
| Clover Ditch Drain At Quinn St Nr Widefield | 1 cfs | → |
| Little Fountain Creek Near Fountain | 0 cfs | → |
| Fountain Creek At Security | 71 cfs | → |
| Jimmy Camp Creek At Fountain | 1 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek Near Fountain Colo | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near John Townsend.
Campgrounds
- Cheyenne Mountain State Park
- Turkey Creek Military - Fort Carson
- Wye
- Skagware Reservoir Dispersed Camping
- The Crags
- Crags Campground
Fishing spots
- Willow Springs Ponds
- Quail Lake
- Rosemont Reservoir
- Prospect Lake (Colorado Springs)
- Mcreynolds Reservoir
- Skaguay Reservoir
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track John Townsend 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 John Townsend
Where does the data for John Townsend 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 John Townsend.