Bowns (Lower) dam
Bowns (Lower)
Bowns (Lower) is a privately owned dam located in Garfield, Utah, near the city of NOTOM. Built in 1960 for irrigation purposes, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 49 feet and a structural height of 56 feet, with a length of 511 feet. It has a normal storage capacity of 3,475 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 4,372 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Pleasant & Oak Creeks, covering a drainage area of 0.9 square miles.
Managed by the Utah Division of Water Rights, Bowns (Lower) is classified as a significant hazard potential structure. Although it has not been condition rated, the dam undergoes inspections every two years, with the last inspection conducted in July 2019. Despite the lack of a detailed risk assessment and emergency action plan, the dam's regulation, inspection, and enforcement are carried out by the state, ensuring its safety and compliance with water resource management guidelines. As a valuable infrastructure for water supply in the region, Bowns (Lower) serves as a vital resource for irrigation and contributes to the overall water management system in Utah.
The dam's location within the Los Angeles District and under the supervision of Utah's regulatory agencies highlights its importance in water resource management. With its rich history dating back to the 1960s, Bowns (Lower) continues to play a crucial role in providing water for agricultural activities and sustaining the ecosystem in the region. As climate change impacts water availability and distribution, the efficient management and maintenance of structures like Bowns (Lower) are essential for ensuring water security and adapting to changing environmental conditions.
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 Bowns (Lower) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fremont River Near Bicknell | 51 cfs | → |
| Pine Creek Near Escalante | 1 cfs | → |
| Escalante River Near Escalante | 0 cfs | → |
| Seven Mile Creek Near Fish Lake | 5 cfs | → |
| Dirty Devil R Abv Poison Sp Wash Nr Hanksville | 25 cfs | → |
| East Fork Sevier River Near Kingston | 198 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bowns (Lower).
Campgrounds
- Lower Bowns
- Lower Bowns Campground
- Pleasant Creek
- Upper Pleasant Creek Campground
- Singletree Campground
- Singletree
Fishing spots
- Chriss Lake
- Mcgath Lake
- Mill Meadow Reservoir Boat Ramp Rec Site
- Forsyth Reservoir Boat Ramp Rec Site
- Joe Lay Reservoir
- Yellow Lake
Track Bowns (Lower) 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 Bowns (Lower)
Where does the data for Bowns (Lower) 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 Bowns (Lower).