Mountain Dell dam
Mountain Dell
Mountain Dell is a historic dam located in Salt Lake City, Utah, along the scenic Parleys Creek. Built in 1916, this buttress dam stands at a structural height of 105 feet and serves as a critical water supply source for the local government. With a storage capacity of 3,506 acre-feet, Mountain Dell plays a key role in providing water for the surrounding area.
Despite its importance, Mountain Dell is classified as having a high hazard potential and is currently rated in poor condition. The dam is regulated by the Utah Division of Water Rights, with regular inspections and enforcement measures in place to ensure its safety. The last inspection in May 2020 highlighted the need for improvements and maintenance to address the dam's deteriorating condition.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Mountain Dell to be a fascinating structure with a rich history and significant impact on the local ecosystem. As efforts continue to maintain and improve the dam's condition, it serves as a reminder of the importance of proper infrastructure management in ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water resources in the face of 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 Mountain Dell -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red Butte Creek At Fort Douglas | 1 cfs | → |
| East Canyon Creek Near Jeremy Ranch | 15 cfs | → |
| Jordan River @ 1700 South @ Salt Lake City | 152 cfs | → |
| East Canyon Creek Bl I-80 Rest Stop Nr Park City | 8 cfs | → |
| Mcleod Creek Near Park City | 8 cfs | → |
| East Canyon Creek Ab East Cyn Res Nr Morgan | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mountain Dell.
Boat launches
- Redwood Road Salt Lake City
- Jordan River Drive 1328, North Salt Lake
- Bountiful Lake
- State Route 319 Wasatch County
- Oquirrh Lake Boat Ramp
- Rock Cliff Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Mill Canyon Fishing Dock And Boardwalk
- Lake Desolation
- Lake Florence
- Lake Lillian
- White Pine Lake
- Lake Solitude
Track Mountain Dell 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 Mountain Dell
Where does the data for Mountain Dell 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 Mountain Dell.