Upper Goldwater dam
Upper Goldwater
Upper Goldwater is a dam located in Yavapai County, Arizona, specifically in the city of Prescott. Built in 1932, this buttress-type dam serves the primary purposes of recreation and water supply along the Bannon Creek. With a height of 52 feet and a storage capacity of 700 acre-feet, Upper Goldwater has a significant impact on the surrounding area, providing essential water resources for both human consumption and recreational activities.
Managed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, Upper Goldwater is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its structural integrity and compliance with safety standards. The dam has a moderate risk assessment rating, with a satisfactory condition assessment as of September 2017. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's risk management measures are in place to mitigate any potential emergencies and ensure the safety of the surrounding community.
The dam's uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 120 feet, can handle a maximum discharge of 8,334 cubic feet per second. The surrounding area covers a surface area of 23 acres, with a drainage area of 2.7 square miles. As a crucial water resource for the region, Upper Goldwater stands as a testament to responsible water management and environmental stewardship in the face of climate challenges.
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 Upper Goldwater -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Granite Creek At Prescott | 0 cfs | → |
| Granite Creek Near Prescott | · | → |
| Granite Creek Blw Watson Lake Nr Prescott | · | → |
| Agua Fria River Near Humboldt | 2 cfs | → |
| Del Rio Springs Near Chino Valley | 0 cfs | → |
| Agua Fria River Near Mayer | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Goldwater.
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
- White Spar Campground
- White Spar
- Ymaca Camp Sky-Y
- Camp Wamatochick
- Upper Wolf Creek Group Campground
- Lower Wolf Creek
Fishing spots
- Upper Goldwater Lake
- Lower Goldwater Lake
- Granite Basin Lake
- Mingus Lake Day Use / Fishing Site
- Horsethief Lake
- Horsethief Boating Site / Day Use Area
Paddle runs
Track Upper Goldwater 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 Upper Goldwater
Where does the data for Upper Goldwater 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 Upper Goldwater.