Koosharem dam
Koosharem
Koosharem is a privately owned dam located in Sevier County, Utah, along the Otter Creek river. Built in 1919 for irrigation purposes, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 18.5 feet and a structural height of 26 feet, with a length of 1850 feet. It has a storage capacity of 7470 acre-feet, with normal storage levels at 3858 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 68 square miles.
Managed by the Utah Division of Water Rights, Koosharem is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. Its last inspection in November 2020 reported the dam's condition as fair, with a high hazard potential. Despite its age, Koosharem continues to provide essential irrigation water for the surrounding area. With its captivating history and ongoing role in water resource management, Koosharem remains a significant landmark for water resource and climate enthusiasts in Utah.
Overall, Koosharem stands as a testament to the resilience and importance of water infrastructure in sustaining agricultural activities and communities in arid regions. Its maintenance and regulation by state authorities ensure its continued safety and functionality, highlighting the crucial role of responsible water resource management in mitigating risks and meeting the needs of diverse stakeholders in the region.
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 Koosharem -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Seven Mile Creek Near Fish Lake | 5 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Above Diversions | 21 cfs | → |
| Fremont River Near Bicknell | 55 cfs | → |
| Salina Creek Near Emery | 4 cfs | → |
| East Fork Sevier River Near Kingston | 203 cfs | → |
| Sevier River Near Kingston | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Koosharem.
Campgrounds
- Koosharem Reservoir Dispersed Camping
- Koosharem Canyon/Paiute Atv
- Milo's Kitchen Trailhead
- Doctor Creek Campground
- Mackinaw Campground
- Mallard Bay Overflow
Fishing spots
- Lakeside Fish Cleaning Station Cua Dispersed
- Joe Bush Fisherman Parking Rec Site
- Johnson Reservoir Rec Site
- Rex Reservoir
- Manning Meadows Cua Dispersed
- Gates Lake
Track Koosharem 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 Koosharem
Where does the data for Koosharem 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 Koosharem.