Rampart Reservoir Explained

Rampart Reservoir
Coords:[1]
Inflow:West Monument Creek
Outflow:West Monument Creek
Basin Countries:United States
Area:300acres[2]
Volume:41000acre.ft
Elevation:9006feet
Pushpin Map:Colorado#USA
Pushpin Map Alt:Location of Rampart Reservoir in Colorado, USA.

Rampart Reservoir is a reservoir 12miles northwest of the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado in the Pike National Forest. The reservoir supplies the domestic drinking water for the city of Colorado Springs and serves as a recreation area for boaters, mountain bikers, and hikers.[3]

The reservoir has been stocked with fish by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.[4]

Dam

The reservoir's construction began in the 1960s in response to the growing population of south-central Colorado and its increasing need for drinking water. The city of Colorado Springs voted in 1967 that the reservoir should be opened for public recreation after necessary facilities were built. The reservoir's earthen dam (NID no. CO00434) is 3400feet long and 230feet high and was completed in 1970. The dam impounds West Monument Creek.

History

Built by the City of Colorado Springs, the reservoir inundated an older one called Reservoir Number 5. Rampart Reservoir access was briefly limited after the September 11 attacks on the United States to protect drinking water supplies. The reservoir area was closed June 23, 2012 due to the Waldo Canyon fire; it was reopened for limited access on Friday, May 24, 2013.[5]

Hydroelectric power

The reservoir supplies water to the Tesla Hydroelectric Facility. Colorado Springs Utilities built and operates this hydroelectric power plant, which opened in 1997. Water from the reservoir flows down a shaft called the Stanley Tunnel and then into the turbines in a powerhouse located in the foothills west of the United States Air Force Academy. Given the reservoir's high altitude, the water arrives at the power plant at a high pressure.[6] [7]

Notes and References

  1. 196534 . Rampart Reservoir . January 1, 2000 . October 29, 2023.
  2. Web site: Rampart . . April 12, 2023 . National Inventory of Dams . October 29, 2023 .
  3. Web site: February 21, 2023 . Rampart Reservoir Recreation Area . Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands.
  4. Web site: Rampart Reservoir fish survey and management data . Noble . Cory . n.d. . Colorado Parks and Wildlife . October 29, 2023 .
  5. Web site: Rappold . R. Scott . 2013-05-21 . Areas of national forest burned in Waldo fire to reopen for Memorial Day . 2023-07-13 . Colorado Springs Gazette . en.
  6. News: Hartman . Todd . April 13, 1997 . Hydroelectric Power Unleashed . The Gazette . Colorado Springs, Colorado . October 29, 2023.
  7. News: . June 20, 1997 . City's newest power plant goes on-line . Colorado Springs Business Journal . October 29, 2023.