Tufa Stone dam
Tufa Stone
Tufa Stone is a federally owned structure located in Gila, Arizona, with the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. This earth dam, constructed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1944, stands at a structural height of 34 feet and spans a length of 2640 feet along the San Carlos River. With a normal storage capacity of 406 acre-feet, Tufa Stone plays a crucial role in managing water flow in the region and protecting the surrounding areas from potential flooding events.
The dam is classified as having a high hazard potential, indicating the significant risk associated with its failure. Despite this, the condition assessment of Tufa Stone is currently listed as "Not Available," highlighting the need for further inspection and maintenance. Emergency action plans have been prepared in the past, with the last revision dating back to December 2013. It is crucial for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor the risk assessment and management measures associated with Tufa Stone to ensure the safety and resilience of the surrounding community and environment.
As a key infrastructure managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Tufa Stone serves as a critical asset in mitigating flood risks along the San Carlos River. Its strategic location and design play a vital role in protecting the region from potential inundation events, making it essential for water resource and climate enthusiasts to stay informed about its condition and management practices. By understanding the significance of structures like Tufa Stone, individuals can contribute to the effective stewardship of water resources and the resilience of communities facing climate-related challenges.
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 Tufa Stone -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Carlos River Near Peridot | · | → |
| Gila River Below Coolidge Dam | 0 cfs | → |
| Gila River At Calva | 12 cfs | → |
| Pinal Creek At Inspiration Dam | 0 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Fort Apache | 29 cfs | → |
| Salt River Near Chrysotile | 76 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tufa Stone.
Campgrounds
- Gila County Rv Park
- Jones Water Primitive Campground
- Jones Water
- Pioneer Pass
- Pioneer Pass Camping Area
- Kellner Group Site
Paddle runs
- Pinto Creek
- Gila River (Middle)
- West Boundary Of Fort Apache Indian Reservation To Southwest Boundary Of Salt River Canyon Wilderness
- Upper Salt Daily
- Northeast Boundary Of Salt River Canyon Wildernes To West Boundary Of Fort Apache Indian Reservation
- Southwest Boundary Of Salt River Canyon Wilderness To State Highway 288 Bridge
More reservoirs
Track Tufa Stone 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 Tufa Stone
Where does the data for Tufa Stone 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 Tufa Stone.