Little Dell dam
Little Dell
Little Dell is a crucial water supply dam located in Salt Lake City, Utah, along the Mountain Dell river. Completed in 1993, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 224 feet, with a hydraulic height of 209 feet, providing a storage capacity of 25,000 acre-feet. Owned and regulated by the Utah Division of Water Rights, Little Dell plays a vital role in ensuring water security for the local community.
With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment, Little Dell is subject to regular inspections and enforcement by state regulatory agencies. The dam's primary purpose is water supply, serving as a key source of water storage for the region. In case of emergencies, there are plans in place, such as an Emergency Action Plan (EAP), to ensure the safety of the surrounding area in the event of a breach or overflow.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Little Dell represents a significant infrastructure project that highlights the importance of sustainable water management practices. As a key player in the water supply system of Salt Lake City, this dam serves as a reminder of the critical role that dams play in securing water resources for communities while also underscoring the need for regular maintenance and monitoring to ensure safety and reliability.
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 Little Dell -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red Butte Creek At Fort Douglas | 1 cfs | → |
| East Canyon Creek Near Jeremy Ranch | 15 cfs | → |
| East Canyon Creek Ab East Cyn Res Nr Morgan | 19 cfs | → |
| East Canyon Creek Bl I-80 Rest Stop Nr Park City | 8 cfs | → |
| Mcleod Creek Near Park City | 8 cfs | → |
| East Canyon Creek Near Morgan | 74 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Dell.
Boat launches
- Redwood Road Salt Lake City
- Jordan River Drive 1328, North Salt Lake
- Bountiful Lake
- State Route 319 Wasatch County
- Rock Cliff Boat Ramp
- Oquirrh Lake Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Camp Kostopulos
- Jordan Pines Group Campground
- Spruces Campground
- Spruces
- East Canyon State Park
- Redman Campground-Slrd
Fishing spots
- Mill Canyon Fishing Dock And Boardwalk
- Lake Desolation
- Lake Florence
- Lake Lillian
- White Pine Lake
- Lake Solitude
Track Little Dell 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 Little Dell
Where does the data for Little Dell 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 Little Dell.