Silver Lake dam
Silver Lake
Silver Lake, located in Utah's Utah County, is a federally-owned water resource managed by the USDA Forest Service. This Earth dam, completed in 1907, stands at a height of 25 feet with a primary purpose of serving as a fish and wildlife pond, recreational area, and for other purposes. The dam spans 120 feet in length and has a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet.
Situated along Silver Creek, this dam is designated as having a low hazard potential with moderate risk. Despite not having a condition rating, the structure has not been modified in recent years and is inspected every 10 years by the Forest Service. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, and outlet gates are similarly uncontrolled. While the risk level is considered moderate, the overall risk assessment for Silver Lake does not have a detailed summary provided.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Silver Lake offers a fascinating glimpse into the intricate management and design of a historic dam structure in Utah. Its multiple purposes, low hazard potential, and moderate risk level make it a noteworthy site for those interested in the intersection of water resource management and environmental conservation.
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 Silver Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| American Fk Ab Upper Powerplant Nr American Fk | 61 cfs | → |
| Snake Creek Near Charleston | 23 cfs | → |
| Provo River Near Charleston | 168 cfs | → |
| Daniels Creek At Charleston | · | → |
| Provo River At River Road Bridge | 141 cfs | → |
| Mcleod Creek Near Park City | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Silver Lake.
Boat launches
- Deer Creek State Park- Charleston Day Use Area
- State Route 314 Wasatch County
- State Route 319 Wasatch County
- North Vineyard Road 4888, Vineyard
- Oquirrh Lake Boat Ramp
- Rock Cliff Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Silver 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 Silver Lake
Where does the data for Silver 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 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 Silver Lake.