City dam
City
Located in Coconino County, Arizona, near the city of Williams, the City dam stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and recreational infrastructure. Built in 1902, this earth dam on Cataract Creek serves multiple purposes, including water supply and recreation. With a height of 46.5 feet and a storage capacity of 160 acre-feet, the dam provides essential water resources for the surrounding area while also offering opportunities for outdoor activities.
Managed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources and regulated by state agencies, the City dam has a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition following a recent inspection in November 2017. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 62 feet and a maximum discharge of 2350 cubic feet per second, ensuring safe water release during times of high flow. Despite its age, the dam continues to play a vital role in water management and recreational enjoyment in the region.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the City dam serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable water management practices. With a risk assessment rating of moderate, efforts to monitor and maintain the dam are essential to ensure the safety and security of the surrounding community. By embracing a comprehensive approach to risk management and emergency preparedness, the City dam stands as a model for balancing the needs of both water supply and recreation in a changing climate.
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 City -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Verde River Near Paulden | 16 cfs | → |
| Verde River Near Clarkdale | 58 cfs | → |
| Del Rio Springs Near Chino Valley | 0 cfs | → |
| Williamson Valley Wash Near Paulden | · | → |
| Oak Creek Near Sedona | 27 cfs | → |
| Oak Creek Near Cornville | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near City.
Campgrounds
- Kaibab Lake Campground And Group Areas
- Kaibab Lake
- Kaibab Lake Campground
- Dogtown Lake
- Dogtown Lake Campground
- White Horse Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Parsons Spring To Confluence Of The Verde River
- Headwaters In Sec 14, T19n, R5e To Confluence With Oak Creek
- Sterling Springs Fish Hatchery To Private Land In Sec 5, T17n,R6e
- Indian Gardens
- Wet Beaver Creek Wilderness Boundary To Private Land In Sec 32, T15n, R6e
- White Bridge To Beasley Flat
More reservoirs
Track City 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 City
Where does the data for City 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 City.