Little Ortega Dam dam
Little Ortega Dam
Little Ortega Dam in Apache, Arizona, stands as a vital structure for flood risk reduction along Brown Creek. Owned by the local government and regulated by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, this Earth-type dam has a height of 12.1 meters and a storage capacity of 120 acre-feet. With a spillway width of 185 feet and a low hazard potential, the dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock water supply, and flood risk mitigation.
Situated in a remote location with limited infrastructure, Little Ortega Dam plays a crucial role in safeguarding the surrounding area from potential flood events. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in April 2020. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and resilience of this essential water resource infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, the management and upkeep of dams like Little Ortega become increasingly significant. With its strategic location and critical flood risk reduction purpose, this dam serves as a key component in the water infrastructure network of Apache County, Arizona. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the role and condition of structures like Little Ortega Dam is essential for ensuring the sustainable management of water resources in the region.
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 Little Ortega Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Show Low Creek Near Lakeside | · | → |
| Little Colorado R Abv Lyman Lake Nr St. Johns | 0 cfs | → |
| Little Colorado River At Greer | 1 cfs | → |
| Filler Ditch At Greer | 1 cfs | → |
| Little Colorado R Blw Salado Springs | · | → |
| Little Colorado R Blw Zion Res Nr St. Johns | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Ortega Dam.
Campgrounds
- Brown Creek Campground
- Scott Reservoir Campground
- Scott Reservoir
- Los Burros Campground
- Los Burros
- Show Low Lake
Fishing spots
- Fools Hollow Lake
- Concho Lake
- Lyman Lake
- Bunch Reservoir
- River Reservoir South Fishing Site
- Lee Valley Reservoir
Paddle runs
- West Fork Little Colorado River
- Headwaters In Mount Baldy Wilderness To Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters In Mount Baldy Wilderness To 0.1 Miles Above Upper Fish Barrier
- South Fork Little Colorado River
- Forest Boundary To 0.15 Miles Below Forest Road 116
- State Highway 261 To 1/2 Mile Above Crosby Crossing
More reservoirs
Track Little Ortega Dam 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 Little Ortega Dam
Where does the data for Little Ortega Dam 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 Little Ortega Dam.