Judia Foote Detention Dam dam
Judia Foote Detention Dam
Located in Solomon, Arizona, the Judia Foote Detention Dam was constructed in 1957 by the USDA NRCS to mitigate flood risks along the Judia Canyon Wash. This stone dam stands at 29 feet tall and spans 920 feet, with a storage capacity of 159 acre-feet. Managed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, the dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state to ensure its structural integrity and effectiveness in flood risk reduction.
With a significant hazard potential and a fair condition assessment, the Judia Foote Detention Dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events. The dam's spillway width of 100 feet allows for a maximum discharge of 9300 cubic feet per second, ensuring proper water management during heavy rainfall. Despite its age, the dam continues to serve its primary purpose effectively and remains an essential infrastructure for water resource management in Graham County, Arizona.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the importance of dams like Judia Foote in flood risk reduction and water management is vital. With a history dating back to the 1950s, this federal-owned structure continues to be a key component of Arizona's water infrastructure, safeguarding communities and ecosystems from the impacts of extreme weather events. Its location in the Judia Canyon Wash and its design by the Natural Resources Conservation Service highlight the collaborative efforts involved in protecting water resources in the region.
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 Judia Foote Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Gila River At Head Of Safford Valley | 24 cfs | → |
| Bonita Creek Near Morenci | 2 cfs | → |
| Frye Creek Near Thatcher | 1 cfs | → |
| Eagle Creek Above Pumping Plant | 36 cfs | → |
| Gila River Near Clifton | 15 cfs | → |
| San Francisco River At Clifton | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Judia Foote Detention Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Hackel Road Dispersed
- Roper Lake State Park
- Riverview
- Riverview Campground
- Upper Arcadia Group Site
- Arcadia Campground
Track Judia Foote Detention Dam 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 Judia Foote Detention Dam
Where does the data for Judia Foote Detention Dam 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 Judia Foote Detention Dam.