West Doubtful Detention Dam dam
West Doubtful Detention Dam
Located in Cochise, Arizona, the West Doubtful Detention Dam serves as a vital flood risk reduction structure along the San Simon Creek. Built in 1968 by the Bureau of Land Management, this gravity dam stands at a hydraulic height of 29 feet and spans 3,265 feet in length. With a maximum storage capacity of 865.6 acre-feet and a normal storage of 798.9 acre-feet, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite its age, the West Doubtful Detention Dam remains in fair condition with a low hazard potential. Regular inspections are conducted every five years to ensure its structural integrity and effectiveness in flood control. As a federally owned and operated structure, it is primarily funded, designed, constructed, and regulated by the Bureau of Land Management. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam continues to play a key role in safeguarding the surrounding area from potential flood events.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the engineering and management efforts that have gone into the West Doubtful Detention Dam. As a critical flood risk reduction structure in Arizona, it exemplifies the importance of sustainable water infrastructure for protecting communities and natural habitats. With its strategic location and design, this dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management practices in the face of changing climate 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 West Doubtful Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Gila River At Duncan | 12 cfs | → |
| Gila River Below Blue Creek | 17 cfs | → |
| Gila River At Head Of Safford Valley | 22 cfs | → |
| Gila River Near Redrock | 28 cfs | → |
| Gila River Near Clifton | 15 cfs | → |
| Frye Creek Near Thatcher | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Doubtful Detention Dam.
Track West Doubtful 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 West Doubtful Detention Dam
Where does the data for West Doubtful 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 West Doubtful Detention Dam.