Willow Creek dam
Willow Creek
Willow Creek, located in Yavapai County, Arizona, is a vital water resource managed by the local government for irrigation, recreation, and water supply purposes. The dam, completed in 1936, stands at a height of 99 feet and has a storage capacity of 7,800 acre-feet. With a surface area of 460 acres and a drainage area of 25 square miles, Willow Creek plays a crucial role in water management in the region.
The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 188 feet, and it has a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition, last assessed in August 2017. The dam's maximum discharge capacity is 8,100 cubic feet per second, making it an important structure for flood control and water regulation in the area. The Arizona Department of Water Resources is responsible for regulating and inspecting the dam, ensuring its safe operation and maintenance for the community.
Overall, Willow Creek Dam serves as a key infrastructure for water management in the region, providing essential resources for irrigation, recreation, and water supply. With its historical significance dating back to the 1930s, the dam continues to play a crucial role in ensuring water security and environmental sustainability in Yavapai County, Arizona.
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 Willow Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Granite Creek Blw Watson Lake Nr Prescott | · | → |
| Granite Creek Near Prescott | · | → |
| Granite Creek At Prescott | 0 cfs | → |
| Agua Fria River Near Humboldt | 2 cfs | → |
| Del Rio Springs Near Chino Valley | 0 cfs | → |
| Verde River Near Paulden | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Willow Creek.
Boat launches
- Lynx Lake Marina & Store Boating Site
- Lynx Lake - South Shore Boat Ramp
- Granite Basin Boating Site
- Pheasant Road Cottonwood
- East Lagoon Loop Trail Cottonwood
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Granite Basin Lake
- Lower Goldwater Lake
- Upper Goldwater Lake
- Mingus Lake Day Use / Fishing Site
- Prairie Lane Fishing Site
- Black Canyon Fishing Site
Paddle runs
Track Willow Creek 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 Willow Creek
Where does the data for Willow Creek 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 Willow Creek.