Atchison dam
Atchison
Atchison is a privately owned earth dam located in Eagar, Arizona, along the Water Canyon Creek. Constructed in 1920, this dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and creating a fish and wildlife pond. With a height of 8 feet and a length of 220 feet, Atchison has a storage capacity of 205 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 52 acres.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Atchison poses a high risk due to its condition being rated as "Not Rated." The dam is under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Department of Water Resources and is subject to state regulations, inspections, and enforcement. The last inspection was conducted in August 2005, with an inspection frequency of 5 years.
Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find Atchison an interesting structure to study, given its historical significance and its role in providing water for wildlife and irrigation. As a privately owned dam, it highlights the importance of proper maintenance and management to ensure safety and sustainability in water resource infrastructure. Researchers and policymakers may also be intrigued by the risk assessment and management measures associated with Atchison, emphasizing the need for proactive monitoring and maintenance of critical water infrastructure.
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 Atchison -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Filler Ditch At Greer | 1 cfs | → |
| Little Colorado River At Greer | 1 cfs | → |
| Nutrioso Cr. Ab. Nelson Res Nr Springerville | 0 cfs | → |
| Little Colorado R Abv Lyman Lake Nr St. Johns | 0 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River Near Fort Apache | 8 cfs | → |
| Little Colorado R Blw Salado Springs | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Atchison.
Campgrounds
- South Fork Campground
- Benny Creek
- Benny Creek Campground
- Rolfe C. Hoyer
- Rolfe C. Hoyer Campground
- Winn Campground
Fishing spots
- River Reservoir South Fishing Site
- Bunch Reservoir
- Crescent Lake Point Area Fishing Site
- Big Lake Dam Parking Fishing Site
- Nelson Reservoir
- Lee Valley Reservoir
Paddle runs
- South Fork Little Colorado River
- State Highway 261 To 1/2 Mile Above Crosby Crossing
- 1/2 Mile Below Crosby Crossing To Confluence With Boneyard Creek
- 1/2 Mile Above Crosby Crossing To 1/2 Mile Below Crosby Crossing
- Confluence With Boneyard Creek To Confluence With Coyote Creek
- Headwaters To Confluence With West Fork Black River
More reservoirs
Track Atchison 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 Atchison
Where does the data for Atchison 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 Atchison.