Signal Butte Frs dam
Signal Butte Frs
Signal Butte Flood Retention Structure (FRS) is a critical water management asset located in Maricopa County, Arizona, near the city of Apache Junction. Built in 1988 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along unnamed washes in the area. With a dam height of 22.4 feet and a structural height of 45 feet, Signal Butte FRS has a storage capacity of 2,822 acre-feet, a surface area of 140 acres, and can discharge a maximum of 2,450 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, Signal Butte FRS is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its structural integrity and operational effectiveness. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 152 feet, and it poses a high hazard potential but is currently assessed to be in satisfactory condition. Despite being a man-made structure, the dam blends seamlessly with its surroundings, utilizing stone core types and rock and soil foundations to support its functions.
As part of flood risk management measures, Signal Butte FRS has an established inspection frequency and a moderate risk assessment level. While the dam has not been modified in recent years, its emergency action plan (EAP) status and inundation maps preparedness are not disclosed. Overall, this water resource infrastructure stands as a crucial component of the region's water management system, highlighting the importance of proactive monitoring and maintenance in safeguarding against potential hazards and ensuring water security for the surrounding community.
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 Signal Butte Frs -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salt River Blw Stewart Mountain Dam | 552 cfs | → |
| Verde River Near Scottsdale | 108 cfs | → |
| Sycamore Creek Near Fort Mcdowell | · | → |
| Indian Bend Wash At Curry Road | · | → |
| Queen Creek Below Whitlow Dam Nr Superior | 1 cfs | → |
| Salt River At Priest Drive Near Phoenix | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Signal Butte Frs.
Boat launches
- Rafter Take-Out Parking
- East Mission Bay Drive Gilbert
- East Saguaro Del Norte Road 469, Maricopa County
- East Saguaro Del Norte Road Maricopa County
- Apache Trail Maricopa County
- Laguna Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Cholla Forest Primitive Group Camp
- Usery Mountain
- Regional Park - Usery Mt Ra
- Usery Park Campground
- Bulldog Canyon Off-Highway Vehicle Area
- Goldfield Camp
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Salt River Indian Reservation Boundary To Immediately Above Granite Reef Dam Impoundment
- Lower Salt
- Boundary Of The Primary Jurisdiction Below Stewart Mountain Dam To Salt River Indian Reservation Boundary
- Lower Verde
- Telegraph Creek - Forest Road #4 To Confluence With Arnett Creek
- Arnett Creek - Forest Road #4 To Middle Of Sec 7,T2s, R12e
Track Signal Butte Frs 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 Signal Butte Frs
Where does the data for Signal Butte Frs 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 Signal Butte Frs.