Aspen (No. 6) dam
Aspen (No. 6)
Aspen (No. 6) is a crucial flood risk reduction infrastructure located in Maricopa, Arizona, near the Verde River. Built in 1973, this earth dam stands at a height of 30.3 feet, with a structural height of 42 feet and a length of 840 feet. It has a storage capacity of 324 acre-feet and a drainage area of 2.26 square miles, providing essential protection to the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Managed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, Aspen (No. 6) is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its proper functioning and safety. The dam's spillway, with a width of 250 feet, is uncontrolled, allowing for the release of excess water during high flow periods. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2018 deemed it satisfactory, with a moderate risk rating. With a focus on flood risk reduction, Aspen (No. 6) plays a crucial role in safeguarding the local community of Fountain Hills from potential water-related disasters.
Overall, Aspen (No. 6) stands as a key piece of infrastructure in Arizona's water resource management framework, contributing to the protection of lives and property from flooding events. With its strategic location near the Verde River and effective design features, this dam serves as a testament to the importance of proactive measures in mitigating the impacts of natural disasters. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of structures like Aspen (No. 6) is essential in fostering sustainable water management practices and resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Aspen (No. 6) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Verde River Near Scottsdale | 106 cfs | → |
| Salt River Blw Stewart Mountain Dam | 605 cfs | → |
| Sycamore Creek Near Fort Mcdowell | · | → |
| Verde River Blw Bartlett Dam | 144 cfs | → |
| Indian Bend Wash At Curry Road | · | → |
| Salt River At Priest Drive Near Phoenix | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Aspen (No. 6).
Boat launches
- Box Bar Shoreline Area And River Access Point
- Rafter Take-Out Parking
- East Mccormick Parkway 7505, Scottsdale
- East Saguaro Del Norte Road 469, Maricopa County
- East Saguaro Del Norte Road Maricopa County
- Boat Launch Road [Fsr 185] Maricopa County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Salt River Indian Reservation Boundary To Immediately Above Granite Reef Dam Impoundment
- Lower Salt
- Boundary Of The Primary Jurisdiction Below Stewart Mountain Dam To Salt River Indian Reservation Boundary
- Lower Verde
- Southern Border Of Mazatzal Wilderness To Sheep Creek Bridge
- Red Creek To Southern Border Of Mazatzal Wilderness
Track Aspen (No. 6) 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 Aspen (No. 6)
Where does the data for Aspen (No. 6) 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 High 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 Aspen (No. 6).