Black Canyon dam
Black Canyon
Black Canyon, located in Navajo County, Arizona, is a state-regulated earth dam constructed in 1964 for the primary purpose of creating a Fish and Wildlife Pond. With a height of 60 feet and a length of 420 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 1,900 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 78 acres. It is situated on the West Fork of Black Canyon Creek, with the nearest city being Heber & Overgaard.
Despite its scenic beauty and recreational potential, Black Canyon Dam is currently assessed as being in poor condition with a high hazard potential. The dam's last inspection in October 2020 revealed the need for improvements to ensure its safety and longevity. The Arizona Department of Water Resources is the state regulatory agency responsible for overseeing the dam's operation, inspection, and enforcement.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Black Canyon can appreciate its role in providing habitat for fish and wildlife, as well as opportunities for recreational activities. However, there is a pressing need for ongoing maintenance and risk management measures to ensure the safety of the dam and surrounding areas. The dam's moderate risk assessment highlights the importance of addressing its structural deficiencies and implementing emergency preparedness protocols to mitigate potential hazards.
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 Black Canyon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chevelon Fork Below Wildcat Canyon | · | → |
| East Verde R Div From East Clear Cr Nr Pine | 5 cfs | → |
| Carrizo Creek Near Show Low | 1 cfs | → |
| Cibecue Creek Near Chysotile | 3 cfs | → |
| Cherry Creek Near Globe | 3 cfs | → |
| Salt River Near Chrysotile | 95 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Black Canyon.
⛺ Campgrounds
- Gentry Campground
- Gentry
- Black Canyon Rim
- Black Canyon Rim Campground
- Upper Canyon Creek Campground
- Upper Canyon Creek
🎣 Fishing spots
- Canyon Creek Fish Hatchery
- Canyon Creek
- Woods Canyon Lake
- Horton Creek
- East Clear Creek
- Fools Hollow Lake
🛶 Paddle runs
- Canyon Creek Springs To Fort Apache Indian Reservation Boundary
- Confluence Of Woods Canyon And Chevelon Creek To South End Of Chevelon Lake
- One Mile Below Woods Canyon Lake Dam (Woods Canyon) To Confluence With Chevelon Canyon
- 1/4 Mile Below Chevelon Lake Dam To 0.1 Miles Above Diversion At Durfee Crossing
- 0.1 Miles Above Diversion At Durfee Crossing To 1/4 Mile Below Forest Road 504 Crossing
- 1/4 Mile Below Forest Road 504 Crossing To Forest Boundary In Section 1, T14n, R15e, Gila And Salt River Meridian
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Black Canyon 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 Black Canyon
Where does the data for Black Canyon 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 Black Canyon.