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.

[4] 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.

[1] 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.

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.