American Fork Debris Basin dam
American Fork Debris Basin
The American Fork Debris Basin, located in American Fork, Utah, is a vital structure owned by the local government to mitigate flood risk along the American Fork River. Completed in 1984, this Earth-type dam stands at a hydraulic height of 13 feet and a structural height of 22 feet, with a total length of 2400 feet. With a storage capacity of 236 acre-feet, it serves as a crucial flood risk reduction measure for the surrounding area.
Managed and regulated by the Utah Division of Water Rights, the American Fork Debris Basin is an essential component of the state's infrastructure for ensuring water resource safety. Its significance is underscored by its state-regulated status, with regular inspections and enforcement measures in place. The dam's location at 31,4S~2E SL in Utah County contributes to the protection of the community from potential hazards, making it a key asset in the region's water resource and climate resilience efforts.
Despite being rated as having a significant hazard potential, the American Fork Debris Basin has not been formally assessed for its condition. Nevertheless, its strategic design and purposeful construction underscore its importance in safeguarding the local area from flooding events. With a history of successful operation and maintenance, this dam stands as a testament to effective flood risk reduction strategies in Utah's water resource management landscape.
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 American Fork Debris Basin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| American Fk Ab Upper Powerplant Nr American Fk | 61 cfs | → |
| Provo River At Provo | 227 cfs | → |
| Daniels Creek At Charleston | · | → |
| Snake Creek Near Charleston | 23 cfs | → |
| Provo River Near Charleston | 168 cfs | → |
| Little Cottonwood Creek @ Jordan River Nr Slc | 51 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near American Fork Debris Basin.
Boat launches
- North Vineyard Road 4888, Vineyard
- Campground Road Provo
- State Route 314 Wasatch County
- Oquirrh Lake Boat Ramp
- Deer Creek State Park- Charleston Day Use Area
- I 15 Provo
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Eastern Boundary Of National Monument To Western Boundary Of National Monument
- Confluence Below Timpooneke To Mt Timpanogos Wilderness Boundary
- Mt Timpanogos Wilderenss Boundary To Scout Falls
- Tibble Res Down
- Headwater Spring In Sec 8 To Mt Timpanogos Wilderness Boundary
- Mt Timpanogos Wilderness Boundary To Theater-In-The-Pines
Track American Fork Debris Basin 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 American Fork Debris Basin
Where does the data for American Fork Debris Basin 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 American Fork Debris Basin.