Lee Valley dam
Lee Valley
Lee Valley, located in Apache County, Arizona, is a state-regulated irrigation dam on Rudd Creek that was completed in 1899. Owned and operated by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, this Earth-type dam stands at 20 feet in height and stretches 440 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 640 acre-feet. The dam serves the primary purpose of irrigation, with a maximum discharge capability of 600 cubic feet per second and a surface area of 44.8 acres.
With a significant hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of July 2017, Lee Valley is subject to regular inspections every three years to ensure its structural integrity. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled and has a width of 210 feet, allowing for the safe release of excess water during periods of high flow. Despite its age, Lee Valley continues to play a crucial role in water management and agricultural activities in the region, highlighting the importance of maintaining and monitoring our water resources 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 Lee Valley -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Filler Ditch At Greer | 1 cfs | → |
| Little Colorado River At Greer | 1 cfs | → |
| Nutrioso Cr. Ab. Nelson Res Nr Springerville | 0 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River Near Fort Apache | 8 cfs | → |
| Little Colorado R Abv Lyman Lake Nr St. Johns | · | → |
| Show Low Creek Near Lakeside | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lee Valley.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Lee Valley Reservoir
- Crescent Lake Point Area Fishing Site
- Big Lake Dam Parking Fishing Site
- River Reservoir South Fishing Site
- Bunch Reservoir
- Nelson Reservoir
Paddle runs
- West Fork Little Colorado River
- Headwaters In Mount Baldy Wilderness To 0.1 Miles Above Upper Fish Barrier
- Forest Boundary To 0.15 Miles Below Forest Road 116
- Headwaters In Mount Baldy Wilderness To Wilderness Boundary
- 0.1 Miles Below Lower Fish Barrier To 1/2 Mile Above West Fork Dispersed Campground
- State Highway 261 To 1/2 Mile Above Crosby Crossing
Track Lee Valley 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 Lee Valley
Where does the data for Lee Valley 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 Significant 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 Lee Valley.