Slack dam
Slack
Located in Gila, Arizona, the Slack dam serves a vital purpose in flood risk reduction along the Pinto Creek - TR stream. Owned privately, but regulated by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, this rockfill dam stands at a height of 50 feet and stretches 587 feet in length. Completed in 1995, it has a normal storage capacity of 42 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 59 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 4 acres with a drainage area of 0.12 square miles.
Despite its low hazard potential, Slack Dam has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, and its condition has not been formally assessed. With a last inspection date in March 2014, the dam is subject to regular inspections every 5 years to ensure its structural integrity and compliance with state regulations. Equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and emergency action plan, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating potential flood risks in the region.
Supported by the Los Angeles District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Slack Dam stands as a testament to effective water management practices in Arizona. Its strategic location in Roosevelt Lake Estates highlights the importance of private-public partnerships in safeguarding communities and ecosystems from the impacts of extreme weather events and climate variability. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Slack Dam serves as a symbol of resilience and innovation 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 Slack -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pinto Cr Blw Haunted Canyon Nr Miami | · | → |
| Pinto Creek Near Miami | 1 cfs | → |
| Pinal Creek At Inspiration Dam | 0 cfs | → |
| Salt River Near Roosevelt | 85 cfs | → |
| Queen Creek Below Whitlow Dam Nr Superior | 1 cfs | → |
| Gila River At Kelvin | 197 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Slack.
Boat launches
- Apache Lake Maricopa County
- Service Road 183 Maricopa County
- Laguna Boat Ramp
- Apache Trail Maricopa County
- Wanda Dalton Road Kearny
Campgrounds
- Oak Flat
- Kellner Group Site
- Sulphide Del Rey Campground
- Sulphide Del Rey
- Sulphide Del Ray
- Gila County Rv Park
Fishing spots
- Theodore Roosevelt Lake
- Cherry Creek
- Queen Creek
- Bartlett Reservoir
- Picacho Reservoir
- South Fork Deadman Creek
Paddle runs
- Pinto Creek
- Arnett Creek - Forest Road #4 To Middle Of Sec 7,T2s, R12e
- Telegraph Creek - Forest Road #4 To Confluence With Arnett Creek
- Southwest Boundary Of Salt River Canyon Wilderness To State Highway 288 Bridge
- West Boundary Of Fort Apache Indian Reservation To Southwest Boundary Of Salt River Canyon Wilderness
- Kelvin Run
Track Slack 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 Slack
Where does the data for Slack 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 Slack.