Blanding City No. 4 dam
Blanding City No. 4
Blanding City No. 4 is a crucial water resource infrastructure owned by the local government in San Juan, Utah. This dam, completed in 1965, serves the primary purpose of water supply and is regulated by the Utah Division of Water Rights. Situated on Westwater Creek, this earth-type dam stands at a structural height of 100 feet and has a hydraulic height of 96 feet, providing a storage capacity of 2,779 acre-feet with a normal storage of 2,442 acre-feet.
With a high hazard potential, Blanding City No. 4 has been assessed as satisfactory in condition, last inspected in September 2020. The dam features a spillway width of 6 feet and a length of 2,057 feet, ensuring effective water management in the region. Located in a drainage area that ultimately drains to the Cotto River, this infrastructure plays a vital role in ensuring water availability for the surrounding community, highlighting the importance of its maintenance and regulatory oversight to mitigate potential risks and ensure continued functionality.
Given its critical role in water supply, Blanding City No. 4 serves as a key component in the local water infrastructure network, contributing to the overall water resource management in the region. As climate change impacts continue to affect water availability and quality, the sustainable operation and maintenance of such infrastructure are essential to safeguarding water resources for future generations. By adhering to inspection, enforcement, and emergency preparedness protocols, this dam can continue to fulfill its primary purpose of providing a reliable water supply to the community while effectively managing potential risks and ensuring public safety.
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 Blanding City No. 4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Recapture Creek Near Blanding | · | → |
| South Creek Above Reservoir Near Monticello | 0 cfs | → |
| Mcelmo Creek Near Colorado-Utah State Line | 2 cfs | → |
| San Juan River Near Bluff | 970 cfs | → |
| Dolores River Near Slick Rock | 11 cfs | → |
| Mcelmo Creek Above Trail Canyon Near Cortez | 21 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blanding City No. 4.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Blanding City No. 4 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 Blanding City No. 4
Where does the data for Blanding City No. 4 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 Blanding City No. 4.