North Creek dam
North Creek
North Creek, located in Garfield, Utah, is a privately owned irrigation structure with a significant impact on water resources in the area. Built in 1941 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 49 feet and a structural height of 54 feet, with a length of 713 feet. With a storage capacity of 450 acre-feet and serving a drainage area of 40.1 square miles, North Creek plays a crucial role in providing water for agricultural purposes in the region.
Managed by the Utah Division of Water Rights, North Creek is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment has not been rated. However, regular inspections are conducted every 2 years to monitor its integrity. With its location in Escalante and its association with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, North Creek remains a key feature in the local water management system, contributing to the irrigation needs of the surrounding area.
As a vital component of the water infrastructure in Garfield County, North Creek serves as a prime example of the collaboration between private ownership, government agencies, and conservation efforts. Its historical significance, dating back to its construction in the early 1940s, highlights the long-standing importance of water resources and climate resilience in the region. With its capacity to store water for irrigation purposes and its role in managing the flow of North Creek, this dam embodies the intersection of human intervention and natural resource management for sustainable water use in Utah.
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 North Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pine Creek Near Escalante | 1 cfs | → |
| Escalante River Near Escalante | 0 cfs | → |
| East Fork Sevier River Near Kingston | 198 cfs | → |
| Fremont River Near Bicknell | 51 cfs | → |
| Sevier River Near Kingston | 9 cfs | → |
| Sevier River At Hatch | 84 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near North Creek.
Campgrounds
- Barker Recreation Area
- Barker Reservoir Area
- Posey Lake Campground
- Posy Lake
- Escalante State Park
- Escalante Outfitters Campground
Fishing spots
- Round Willow Bottom
- Upper Barker Reservoir
- Long Willow Bottom
- Lower Barker Reservoir
- Joe Lay Reservoir
- Dougherty Basin
Track North Creek 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 North Creek
Where does the data for North Creek 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 North Creek.