Christmas Tree dam
Christmas Tree
Christmas Tree is a federally owned recreational dam located in White River, Arizona, along the Sun Creek. Built in 1965 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 45 feet and spans 850 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 575 acre-feet, it serves primarily for recreational purposes and is regulated by the DOI BIA.
Despite its modest size, Christmas Tree is classified as having a high hazard potential, with a very high risk assessment rating. While the condition assessment is not available, the emergency action plan was last revised in 2011. The dam is inspected every 5 years, indicating a commitment to ensuring its safety and integrity. The dam's spillway is controlled, although there are no outlet gates or locks associated with the structure.
Located in Apache County, Arizona, Christmas Tree Dam poses a potential risk to the surrounding area in the event of a breach or failure. As a popular recreational spot, it is essential for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to regularly monitor and maintain the dam to mitigate any potential hazards. Water resource and climate enthusiasts would find this data intriguing, as it sheds light on the importance of maintaining and managing dams in environmentally sensitive areas like the Sun Creek watershed.
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 Christmas Tree -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork White River Near Fort Apache | 7 cfs | → |
| Filler Ditch At Greer | 1 cfs | → |
| Little Colorado River At Greer | 1 cfs | → |
| Show Low Creek Near Lakeside | · | → |
| White River Near Fort Apache | 20 cfs | → |
| Black River Blw Pumping Plant | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Christmas Tree.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Lee Valley Reservoir
- Crescent Lake Point Area Fishing Site
- Big Lake Dam Parking Fishing Site
- Bunch Reservoir
- River Reservoir South Fishing Site
- Aker Lake Fishing Site
Paddle runs
- Headwaters In Mount Baldy Wilderness To Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters In Mount Baldy Wilderness To 0.1 Miles Above Upper Fish Barrier
- West Fork Little Colorado River
- Forest Boundary To 0.15 Miles Below Forest Road 116
- 0.1 Miles Below Lower Fish Barrier To 1/2 Mile Above West Fork Dispersed Campground
- Headwaters To Confluence With West Fork Black River
More reservoirs
Track Christmas Tree 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 Christmas Tree
Where does the data for Christmas Tree 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 Christmas Tree.