White River Shale Retention dam
White River Shale Retention
White River Shale Retention is a privately owned structure located in Uintah, Utah, designed to reduce flood risks along the White River tributary. Completed in 1983, this earth dam stands at 66 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 59 feet and a length of 650 feet. It has a storage capacity of 400 acre-feet, providing crucial flood protection for the surrounding area.
Managed by the Utah Division of Water Rights, White River Shale Retention is subject to state regulations and inspections to ensure its functionality and safety. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," the dam serves as a vital flood control measure in the region. Its last inspection was conducted in October 2019, with a scheduled inspection frequency of 5 years.
Despite its relatively low hazard potential, White River Shale Retention plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks and protecting the surrounding community. Its design and construction, overseen by private entities, highlight the collaborative efforts between private owners and state agencies to safeguard water resources and enhance climate resilience in the area.
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 White River Shale Retention -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White River Near Watson | 606 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Jensen | 5,630 cfs | → |
| Duchesne River Near Randlett | 163 cfs | → |
| White River Below Boise Creek | 462 cfs | → |
| Uinta River At Randlett | 10 cfs | → |
| Corral Gulch Near Rangely | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near White River Shale Retention.
Boat launches
- White River Bonanza Boat Launch
- White River Enron Boat Ramp
- Seep Ridge Road Uintah County
- State Highway 64 24469, Rangely
- Pelican Lake Boat Ramp
- Uintah County
Campgrounds
- Atchees Wash Campsite
- Three Mile Canyon Campsite
- White River Enron Campsite 1
- White River Enron Campsite 3
- White River Enron Campsite 2
- Big Park V Campsite
Fishing spots
Track White River Shale Retention 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 White River Shale Retention
Where does the data for White River Shale Retention 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 White River Shale Retention.