White Mountain dam
White Mountain
White Mountain, located in Apache County, Arizona, is a privately owned irrigation dam on Hall Creek. Built in 1929, this earth dam stands at 16 feet high and spans 1200 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 2391 acre-feet. The dam serves the primary purpose of irrigation, with a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating.
Managed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, White Mountain is state-regulated and regularly inspected to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and a surface area of 480 acres, contributing to the irrigation needs of the surrounding area. With a drainage area of 5.6 square miles and a maximum discharge of 220 cubic feet per second, White Mountain plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
Despite its age, White Mountain remains a vital component of the local water infrastructure, providing essential irrigation water for agricultural purposes. With its efficient design and regular maintenance, this dam continues to support the water needs of the community while mitigating potential risks associated with its operation. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, White Mountain serves as a noteworthy example of sustainable water management practices in Arizona.
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 White Mountain -- 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 | 0 cfs | → |
| Show Low Creek Near Lakeside | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near White Mountain.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Bunch Reservoir
- Lee Valley Reservoir
- River Reservoir South Fishing Site
- Crescent Lake Point Area Fishing Site
- Big Lake Dam Parking Fishing Site
- Nelson Reservoir
Paddle runs
- West Fork Little Colorado River
- South 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
- State Highway 261 To 1/2 Mile Above Crosby Crossing
More reservoirs
Track White Mountain 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 White Mountain
Where does the data for White Mountain 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 Low 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 White Mountain.