Wide Hollow dam
Wide Hollow
Wide Hollow is a private irrigation dam located in Garfield County, Utah, along the Escalante River. Built in 1954 with a height of 51 feet and a capacity of 3701 acre-feet, this earth dam serves the primary purpose of providing water for agricultural irrigation in the region. Managed by the Utah Division of Water Rights, the dam has a high hazard potential but is in satisfactory condition, as assessed in 2011.
Designed by Franson Civil Engineers and USDA NRCS, Wide Hollow is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and functionality. With a hydraulic height of 46 feet and a length of 2300 feet, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area. Although there have been no modifications or emergency action plans reported, the dam's last inspection in July 2020 confirms its compliance with safety standards.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the significance of Wide Hollow in sustaining agricultural activities along the Escalante River. As a vital irrigation structure, this dam underscores the importance of responsible water management practices in drought-prone regions like Utah. Its location and design, coupled with state oversight and maintenance, highlight the crucial role of infrastructure in supporting sustainable water use 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 Wide Hollow -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Escalante River Near Escalante | 0 cfs | → |
| Pine Creek Near Escalante | 1 cfs | → |
| Fremont River Near Bicknell | 51 cfs | → |
| East Fork Sevier River Near Kingston | 198 cfs | → |
| Sevier River Near Kingston | 9 cfs | → |
| Sevier River At Hatch | 84 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wide Hollow.
Campgrounds
- Escalante State Park
- Escalante Outfitters Campground
- Hole In The Rock - Grand Staircase Nat Mon
- Posey Lake Campground
- Posy Lake
- Little Spencer Flat Dispersed - Grand Staircase Nat Mon
Fishing spots
- Upper Barker Reservoir
- Lower Barker Reservoir
- Round Willow Bottom
- Joe Lay Reservoir
- Long Willow Bottom
- Dougherty Basin
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Wide Hollow 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 Wide Hollow
Where does the data for Wide Hollow 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 Wide Hollow.