Kolob Creek dam
Kolob Creek
Kolob Creek, located in Virgin, Utah, is a private irrigation dam designed by the USDA NRCS and regulated by the Utah Division of Water Rights. Built in 1956, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 55 feet and a structural height of 61 feet, with a length of 686 feet. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 5586 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 7189 acre-feet, serving the purpose of irrigation for the surrounding area.
Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, Kolob Creek Dam has been inspected regularly, with the last inspection conducted in June 2020. The dam is equipped with outlet gates and has a maximum discharge capacity of 210 cubic feet per second. With its location in the picturesque Washington County, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and agriculture in the region. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Kolob Creek Dam to be a fascinating example of infrastructure that balances the needs of irrigation with the challenges of maintaining safety and reliability in a changing climate.
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 Kolob Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Virgin River Near Springdale | 43 cfs | → |
| Coal Creek Near Cedar City | 26 cfs | → |
| Virgin River At Virgin | 75 cfs | → |
| East Fork Virgin River Near Springdale | 40 cfs | → |
| Virgin River Ab La Verkin Creek Nr La Verkin | 31 cfs | → |
| Leeds Creek Near Leeds | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kolob Creek.
Boat launches
- North 5300 West Hurricane
- Yankee Road Iron County
- Sand Hollow Reservoir Westside Boat Ramp
- Garfield County
- North Shore Road Garfield County
Campgrounds
- Lava Point Site 2
- Lava Point Campground
- Lava Point Site 1
- Lava Point Campgound
- Lava Point - Zion National Park
- Lee Pass 12
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Kolob 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 Kolob Creek
Where does the data for Kolob 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 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 Kolob Creek.