South Well Detention Dam dam
South Well Detention Dam
South Well Detention Dam, located in Graham, Arizona, along the San Simon River, was completed in 1981 by the Bureau of Land Management as a gravity-type structure for flood risk reduction. With a structural height of 24 feet and a hydraulic height of 19 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 334.8 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 1.73 square miles. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam has not been rated for its condition assessment, with its last inspection dating back to July 2015.
Owned, funded, designed, constructed, regulated, inspected, and operated by the Bureau of Land Management, South Well Detention Dam plays a crucial role in managing flood risks in the region. With a primary purpose of flood risk reduction, the dam stands at 1,062 feet in length and covers a surface area of 16.72 acres. Although lacking a spillway type and outlet gates, the dam's maximum discharge capacity is 250 cubic feet per second, ensuring effective water management during peak flow events.
Ensuring the safety and functionality of South Well Detention Dam remains a priority, as its emergency action plan and risk assessment measures are currently not documented. With a focus on mitigating potential risks and enhancing operational efficiency, ongoing inspections and maintenance efforts are essential to safeguarding the surrounding communities and water resources supported by this vital 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 South Well Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Gila River At Head Of Safford Valley | 22 cfs | → |
| Frye Creek Near Thatcher | 1 cfs | → |
| Bonita Creek Near Morenci | 2 cfs | → |
| Gila River Near Clifton | 15 cfs | → |
| Eagle Creek Above Pumping Plant | 35 cfs | → |
| Gila River At Duncan | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Well Detention Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Hackel Road Dispersed
- Roper Lake State Park
- Riverview
- Riverview Campground
- Upper Arcadia Group Site
- Arcadia Campground
Track South Well Detention 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 South Well Detention Dam
Where does the data for South Well Detention 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 South Well Detention Dam.