Nutrioso dam
Nutrioso
Nutrioso, located in Apache County, Arizona, is a private fish and wildlife pond with a primary purpose of supporting aquatic ecosystems. Built in 1929 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at 10 feet high and stretches 865 feet long, with a storage capacity of 145 acre-feet. The dam serves the dual purposes of irrigation and wildlife conservation, providing essential water resources to the surrounding area.
Despite its age, Nutrioso dam is considered to have low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. With a drainage area of 10.94 square miles and a maximum discharge of 36 cubic feet per second, this structure plays a crucial role in managing water flow and supporting local flora and fauna. Although not currently rated for condition assessment, the dam continues to operate effectively, demonstrating its importance as a key water resource in the region.
As part of the Los Angeles District, Nutrioso dam is a vital component of the local ecosystem, ensuring a stable supply of water for wildlife and agricultural purposes. With its uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, the dam provides a reliable water source while maintaining a low-risk profile. As climate change continues to impact water resources, structures like Nutrioso will play an increasingly important role in preserving and managing water supplies for future generations.
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 Nutrioso -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrioso Cr. Ab. Nelson Res Nr Springerville | 0 cfs | → |
| Filler Ditch At Greer | 1 cfs | → |
| Little Colorado River At Greer | 1 cfs | → |
| Little Colorado R Abv Lyman Lake Nr St. Johns | 0 cfs | → |
| San Francisco River Near Reserve | 3,350 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River Near Fort Apache | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nutrioso.
Campgrounds
- Alpine Divide Campground
- Alpine Divide
- Diamond Rock
- Diamond Rock Campground
- Luna Lake Group Campground
- Luna Lake Campground
Fishing spots
- Hulsey Lake Fishing Site
- Nelson Reservoir
- San Francisco River
- Luna Lake
- Big Lake Dam Parking Fishing Site
- Crescent Lake Point Area Fishing Site
Paddle runs
- 1/2 Mile Below Crosby Crossing To Confluence With Boneyard Creek
- 1/2 Mile Above Crosby Crossing To 1/2 Mile Below Crosby Crossing
- Confluence With Boneyard Creek To Confluence With Coyote Creek
- Confluence With Coyote Creek To 1/4 Mile Above Diamond Rock Campground
- 1/4 Mile Above Diamond Rock Campground To Confluence With West Fork Black River
- State Highway 261 To 1/2 Mile Above Crosby Crossing
More reservoirs
Track Nutrioso 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 Nutrioso
Where does the data for Nutrioso 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 Nutrioso.