Rampart Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Rampart Reservoir or Rampart Range Reservoir is a reservoir
northwest of the city of Colorado Springs
, Colorado
in Pike National Forest
. The reservoir is located on a granite
plateau approximately 9000 feet (2,743 m) above sea level
, and consists of a body of water with a capacity of 13000000000 gallons (49,210,356 m³). This water supplies the domestic drinking water for the city of Colorado Springs, and because of this fact, access to the area was briefly limited after the September 11 attacks on the United States. The area today is a popular recreation area for boaters, mountain bikers, and hikers.
Planning for construction of the reservoir began in the 1960s in recognition of the growing population of south-central Colorado and its increasing need for drinking water. In 1967, the city of Colorado Springs voted that the planned reservoir would eventually be opened for public recreation after construction of the necessary facilities. In 1969, the reservoir's dam was built, stretching 3400 feet (1,036 m) long and 230 feet (70 m) high. Five years after its completion, the dam was completely filled and opened to the public as a recreation area. The reservoir has been stocked with fish by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, which continues to do so today.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
northwest of the city of Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in Pike National Forest
Pike National Forest
The Pike National Forest is located in the Front Range of Colorado, USA, west of Colorado Springs and including Pikes Peak. The forest encompasses 1,106,604 acres within Clear Creek, Teller, Park, Jefferson, Douglas and El Paso counties. The major rivers draining the forest are the South Platte...
. The reservoir is located on a granite
Pikes Peak granite
The Pikes Peak granite is a widespread geologic formation found in the central part of the Front Range of Colorado. The granite gets its name from the mountain Pikes Peak, which is made up almost entirely of the distinctive, brick-red rock...
plateau approximately 9000 feet (2,743 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
, and consists of a body of water with a capacity of 13000000000 gallons (49,210,356 m³). This water supplies the domestic drinking water for the city of Colorado Springs, and because of this fact, access to the area was briefly limited after the September 11 attacks on the United States. The area today is a popular recreation area for boaters, mountain bikers, and hikers.
Planning for construction of the reservoir began in the 1960s in recognition of the growing population of south-central Colorado and its increasing need for drinking water. In 1967, the city of Colorado Springs voted that the planned reservoir would eventually be opened for public recreation after construction of the necessary facilities. In 1969, the reservoir's dam was built, stretching 3400 feet (1,036 m) long and 230 feet (70 m) high. Five years after its completion, the dam was completely filled and opened to the public as a recreation area. The reservoir has been stocked with fish by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, which continues to do so today.