Foster dam
Foster
Foster, a privately owned water structure located in Iron, Utah, plays a crucial role in irrigation as it harnesses water from Hoosier Creek for agricultural purposes. Built in 1980, this earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet with a hydraulic height of 12 feet and a length of 480 feet. It has a storage capacity of 400 acre-feet, providing essential water resources to the surrounding area.
Managed and regulated by the Utah Division of Water Rights, Foster is subject to regular inspections and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and compliance with state regulations. Despite being classified as a low hazard potential structure, it serves as a vital component in water management, especially in a region prone to climate variability. With a condition assessment of "Not Rated," there remains room for further evaluation and potential enhancements to optimize its performance and resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
As part of the broader water infrastructure network in Utah, Foster represents a key asset for sustainable water resource management in the region. Its strategic location and purposeful design highlight the importance of proactive maintenance and monitoring to safeguard its functionality and efficiency. By staying abreast of regulatory requirements and incorporating risk management measures, Foster continues to support agricultural activities and contribute to the overall resilience of the local water system.
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 Foster -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mammoth Creek Abv West Hatch Ditch | 40 cfs | → |
| Coal Creek Near Cedar City | 28 cfs | → |
| Sevier River At Hatch | 84 cfs | → |
| Beaver River At Adamsville | 1 cfs | → |
| East Fork Virgin River Near Glendale | 5 cfs | → |
| Beaver River Near Beaver | 26 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Foster.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Yankee Designated Dispersed Camping Area
- Yankee Meadow Campground
- Panguitch Lake North Campground
- Panguitch Lake South Campground
- Panguitch Lake
- White Bridge
Fishing spots
- Panguitch Lake
- Navajo Lake
- Anderson Meadow Rec Site
- Long Willow Bottom
- Round Willow Bottom
- Dougherty Basin
Paddle runs
Track Foster 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 Foster
Where does the data for Foster 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 Foster.