Elgo dam
Elgo
Elgo is a federal-owned irrigation structure located in San Carlos, Arizona, along the San Carlos River. Completed in 1979 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 133 feet and spans a length of 1100 feet. With a normal storage capacity of 6000 acre-feet, Elgo serves the primary purpose of providing water for irrigation in the region.
Despite its vital role in supporting agricultural activities, Elgo poses a high hazard potential due to its age and lack of recent condition assessments. The dam is classified as having a very high risk level, emphasizing the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure the safety of surrounding communities. While an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) was last revised in 2013, there is a need for updated preparedness measures to align with current guidelines and mitigate potential risks.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the data on Elgo highlights the critical intersection between infrastructure, water management, and risk assessment. The detailed information provided sheds light on the importance of proactive measures to safeguard dams like Elgo, ensuring sustainable water usage and mitigating the potential impact of natural disasters on local communities. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in managing water resources and the need for continuous monitoring and maintenance of crucial infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Elgo -- 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 | → |
| Black River Near Fort Apache | 29 cfs | → |
| White River Near Fort Apache | 17 cfs | → |
| Salt River Near Chrysotile | 76 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Elgo.
Campgrounds
- Jones Water Primitive Campground
- Jones Water
- Gila County Rv Park
- Timber Camp
- Timber Camp Recreation Area And Group Campgrounds
- Pioneer Pass
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Pinto Creek
- Gila River (Middle)
- Upper Salt Daily
- West Boundary Of San Carlos Indian Reservation To Northeast Boundary Of Salt River Canyon Wilderness
- Northeast Boundary Of Salt River Canyon Wildernes To West Boundary Of Fort Apache Indian Reservation
- West Boundary Of Fort Apache Indian Reservation To Southwest Boundary Of Salt River Canyon Wilderness
Track Elgo 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 Elgo
Where does the data for Elgo 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 Elgo.