Lower Rose Canyon dam
Lower Rose Canyon
Lower Rose Canyon, located in Pima County, Arizona, is a state-regulated dam under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Built in 1958, this gravity dam stands at a height of 41 feet and serves primarily as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. With a storage capacity of 145 acre-feet and a surface area of 7.3 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in fire protection, stock watering, and recreational activities in the area.
The dam's spillway, with a width of 34 feet, is uncontrolled, and it has a low hazard potential with a moderate risk assessment rating. Despite not being rated for its condition, the dam is inspected every five years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The surrounding Sycamore Creek provides water to the dam, which has a drainage area of 0.78 square miles and a maximum discharge of 728 cubic feet per second.
Lower Rose Canyon Dam offers a picturesque setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to appreciate the intersection of human engineering with natural ecosystems. Its importance in supporting local wildlife habitats and recreational opportunities underscores the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its long-term viability 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 Lower Rose Canyon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sabino Creek Near Tucson | · | → |
| Tanque Verde Creek At Tucson | · | → |
| Pantano Wash At Broadway Blvd. At Tucson | · | → |
| San Pedro R At Redington Bridge Nr Redington | 400 cfs | → |
| Rillito Creek At Dodge Boulevard | · | → |
| Rincon Creek Near Tucson | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Rose Canyon.
Campgrounds
- Rose Canyon
- Rose Canyon Campground
- Showers Point Group Campground
- Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin
- Incinerator Ridge Dispersed Camping
- General Hitchcock Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Wilderness Boundary To Coronado National Forest Boundary
- Marshall Gulch Recreation Area To Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters To Pusch Ridge Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters To 1/4 Mile South Of Forest Road 736
- 1/4 Mile South Of Forest Road 736 To Coronado National Forest Boundary
- Pusch Ridge Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Cañada Del Oro
Track Lower Rose Canyon 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 Lower Rose Canyon
Where does the data for Lower Rose Canyon 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 Low 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 Lower Rose Canyon.