Sandy City - Alta Canyon dam
Sandy City - Alta Canyon
Sandy City - Alta Canyon is a crucial flood risk reduction infrastructure located in Salt Lake, Utah. Constructed in 1984, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 12 feet and stretches 950 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 28 acre-feet, it serves the primary purpose of mitigating flood risks in the area. The dam is regulated and inspected by the Utah Division of Water Rights, ensuring it meets state standards for safety and functionality.
Situated in a runoff area with a drainage area of 0.1 square miles, Sandy City - Alta Canyon plays a significant role in managing water resources in the region. Its hazard potential is rated as 'significant', highlighting the critical role it plays in protecting nearby communities from potential flooding events. The dam has not been rated for condition assessment, but it undergoes inspections every three years to ensure its continued effectiveness in flood prevention. Additionally, the dam lacks an emergency action plan (EAP) and inundation maps, pointing to areas for improvement in emergency preparedness and risk management.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sandy City - Alta Canyon presents a fascinating case study in flood risk reduction infrastructure. Its design and operation are overseen by state regulatory agencies, reflecting a commitment to safeguarding communities from the impacts of extreme weather events. As efforts continue to enhance emergency preparedness and risk assessment for the dam, it serves as a vital asset in promoting resilience to climate-related challenges in the region.
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 Sandy City - Alta Canyon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Cottonwood Creek @ Jordan River Nr Slc | 44 cfs | → |
| Surplus Canal @ Salt Lake City | 262 cfs | → |
| Jordan River @ 1700 South @ Salt Lake City | 144 cfs | → |
| American Fk Ab Upper Powerplant Nr American Fk | 53 cfs | → |
| Red Butte Creek At Fort Douglas | 1 cfs | → |
| Mcleod Creek Near Park City | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sandy City - Alta Canyon.
Boat launches
- Oquirrh Lake Boat Ramp
- Redwood Road Salt Lake City
- North Vineyard Road 4888, Vineyard
- Jordan River Drive 1328, North Salt Lake
- Deer Creek State Park- Charleston Day Use Area
- State Route 314 Wasatch County
Campgrounds
- Tanners Flat Campground
- Tanners Flat
- Jordan Pines Group Campground
- Spruces Campground
- Granite Flat
- Spruces
Fishing spots
- Lake Lillian
- Lake Florence
- Mill Canyon Fishing Dock And Boardwalk
- Lake Solitude
- Echo Reservoir
- Lake Martha
Track Sandy City - Alta Canyon 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 Sandy City - Alta Canyon
Where does the data for Sandy City - Alta Canyon 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 Sandy City - Alta Canyon.