Tropic dam
Tropic
Tropic is a privately owned irrigation dam located in Garfield County, Utah, along the East Fork of the Sevier River. Built in 1936, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 29 feet and serves the primary purpose of irrigation, with a storage capacity of 3,700 acre-feet. The dam has a high hazard potential and is regulated by the Utah Division of Water Rights, with regular inspections and enforcement to ensure its safety and functionality.
Despite its fair condition assessment, Tropic Dam remains a critical infrastructure for water resource management in the region, providing water for agricultural purposes in Antimony and surrounding areas. With a drainage area of 86.1 square miles and a maximum discharge of 60 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in sustaining local ecosystems and supporting the livelihoods of farmers and residents in the community. Its proximity to the Los Angeles District of the US Army Corps of Engineers underscores its significance in the broader water management landscape.
As a key component of the water infrastructure in Utah, Tropic Dam requires ongoing maintenance and adherence to regulatory standards to mitigate risks and ensure public safety. With its strategic location and vital role in providing water for irrigation, the dam serves as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions. As enthusiasts in the field of water resources and climate, monitoring the condition and performance of dams like Tropic is essential for understanding the broader implications of water management in a changing world.
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 Tropic -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sevier River At Hatch | 84 cfs | → |
| Mammoth Creek Abv West Hatch Ditch | 40 cfs | → |
| East Fork Virgin River Near Glendale | 5 cfs | → |
| Pine Creek Near Escalante | 1 cfs | → |
| Escalante River Near Escalante | 0 cfs | → |
| Kanab Creek Near Kanab | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tropic.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Tropic 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 Tropic
Where does the data for Tropic 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 Tropic.