Santa Fe dam
Santa Fe
Santa Fe, also known as Railroad Dam, is a historic masonry dam located in Williams, Arizona, along Cataract Creek. Built in 1892, this dam serves primarily for recreation purposes and water supply, with a storage capacity of 260 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 215 acre-feet. The dam stands at 42 feet in height and stretches 454 feet in length, with a spillway width of 63 feet for uncontrolled discharge.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, Santa Fe poses a high hazard potential but has been assessed as satisfactory in condition. Despite its age, the dam continues to provide essential water resources for the community while offering recreational opportunities for enthusiasts. With a moderate risk rating and regular inspections, Santa Fe remains a vital piece of infrastructure in Coconino County, Arizona, highlighting the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore the historic Santa Fe Dam, they can appreciate its multi-arch masonry design and rock foundation that have stood the test of time. With a surface area of 14 acres and a drainage area of 4.7 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow along Cataract Creek and ensuring sustainable water supply for the surrounding area. With its rich history, recreational value, and vital water supply function, Santa Fe stands as a testament to the importance of prudent water resource management 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 Santa Fe -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Verde River Near Paulden | 16 cfs | → |
| Verde River Near Clarkdale | 58 cfs | → |
| Del Rio Springs Near Chino Valley | 0 cfs | → |
| Williamson Valley Wash Near Paulden | · | → |
| Oak Creek Near Sedona | 27 cfs | → |
| Oak Creek Near Cornville | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Santa Fe.
Campgrounds
- Kaibab Lake Campground And Group Areas
- Kaibab Lake
- Kaibab Lake Campground
- Dogtown Lake
- Dogtown Lake Campground
- White Horse Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Parsons Spring To Confluence Of The Verde River
- Headwaters In Sec 14, T19n, R5e To Confluence With Oak Creek
- Sterling Springs Fish Hatchery To Private Land In Sec 5, T17n,R6e
- Indian Gardens
- Wet Beaver Creek Wilderness Boundary To Private Land In Sec 32, T15n, R6e
- White Bridge To Beasley Flat
More reservoirs
Track Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe
Where does the data for Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe.