Clearwell Reservoir dam
Clearwell Reservoir
Clearwell Reservoir, located in Tucson, Arizona, is a vital water supply reservoir owned by the local government and regulated by the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Completed in 1992, this Earth dam stands at 77 feet tall and stretches 500 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 178 acre-feet. The reservoir is situated on an unnamed wash, serving as a critical source of water for the region's needs.
With a surface area of 7 acres and a drainage area of 0.04 square miles, Clearwell Reservoir has a spillway width of 110 feet and a high hazard potential due to its proximity to populated areas. Despite this, the dam is currently in satisfactory condition, as assessed in January 2018. The reservoir's emergency action plan and risk management measures are essential to ensuring public safety and efficient water supply management in the face of potential emergencies.
In the care of the local government and subject to regular inspections, Clearwell Reservoir symbolizes the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience in Arizona. Its strategic location and purpose highlight the importance of sustainable water supply infrastructure in arid regions, where every drop counts in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Clearwell Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz River At Tucson | · | → |
| Rillito Creek At La Cholla Blvd Near Tucson | · | → |
| Canada Del Oro Blw Ina Road | · | → |
| Rillito Creek At Dodge Boulevard | · | → |
| Santa Cruz River At Cortaro | 51 cfs | → |
| Tanque Verde Creek At Tucson | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Clearwell Reservoir.
Campgrounds
- Snyder Hill Dispersed
- Gilbert Ray
- Agave Gulch Military
- Catalina State Park
- Gordon Hirabayashi Campground
- Molino Basin
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Pusch Ridge Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Cañada Del Oro
- Headwaters To Pusch Ridge Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters To 1/4 Mile South Of Forest Road 736
- Wilderness Boundary To Coronado National Forest Boundary
- Marshall Gulch Recreation Area To Wilderness Boundary
- 1/4 Mile South Of Forest Road 736 To Coronado National Forest Boundary
Track Clearwell Reservoir 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 Clearwell Reservoir
Where does the data for Clearwell Reservoir 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 Clearwell Reservoir.