Big Lake dam
Big Lake
Big Lake, located in Glenwood, Utah, is a privately owned irrigation reservoir managed by the Utah Division of Water Rights. The dam, completed in 1979, stands at a structural height of 19 feet and serves the primary purpose of irrigation. With a maximum storage capacity of 1875 acre-feet and a normal storage of 1225 acre-feet, Big Lake plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area.
The dam, classified as an earth dam, spans a length of 314 feet and has a hydraulic height of 13 feet. The reservoir is fed by Water Creek Canyon and has a drainage area of 5 square miles. In the event of significant hazard potential, Big Lake is subject to regular inspections by the state regulatory agency to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Water enthusiasts and climate activists will appreciate the vital role that Big Lake plays in supporting agricultural activities in the region while also recognizing the importance of responsible dam management to mitigate potential risks. With its strategic location and significant storage capacity, Big Lake is a key asset for water resource management in Sevier County, Utah.
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 Big Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Seven Mile Creek Near Fish Lake | 5 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Above Diversions | 17 cfs | → |
| Salina Creek Near Emery | 4 cfs | → |
| East Fork Sevier River Near Kingston | 211 cfs | → |
| Sevier River Near Kingston | 9 cfs | → |
| Fremont River Near Bicknell | 52 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Lake.
Campgrounds
- Big Lake Cua Dispersed
- Koosharem Reservoir Dispersed Camping
- Milo's Kitchen Trailhead
- Koosharem Canyon/Paiute Atv
- Upper Box Creek Trailhead
- Manning Meadow Cua Dispersed
Fishing spots
- Manning Meadows Cua Dispersed
- Rex Reservoir
- Lakeside Fish Cleaning Station Cua Dispersed
- Joe Bush Fisherman Parking Rec Site
- Gates Lake
- Salina Reservoir
Paddle runs
Track Big Lake 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 Big Lake
Where does the data for Big Lake 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 Big Lake.