Shurtliff-Behunin dam
Shurtliff-Behunin
Shurtliff-Behunin is a privately owned earth dam located in Garfield County, Utah, with a primary purpose of irrigation. Completed in 1981, this dam has a hydraulic height of 12 feet and a structural height of 15 feet, with a length of 575 feet. It has a storage capacity of 170 acre-feet and serves the Nazar Draw river or stream, draining into the Escalante River. The dam is regulated by the Utah Division of Water Rights and undergoes regular inspections, with a low hazard potential and a condition assessment that is currently not rated.
Despite being privately owned, Shurtliff-Behunin plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region, providing irrigation water for agricultural purposes. The dam is situated in a remote area with limited infrastructure, but its importance for water storage and distribution cannot be understated. With a drainage area of 10.9 square miles, the dam contributes to the overall water management system in the area.
While the dam's condition assessment is not currently rated, its low hazard potential indicates that it is structurally sound and poses minimal risk. Regular inspections and maintenance ensure the safety and effectiveness of the dam for irrigation purposes. Shurtliff-Behunin stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management in arid regions like Utah, highlighting the vital role that dams play in sustaining agriculture and communities in the area.
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 Shurtliff-Behunin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pine Creek Near Escalante | 1 cfs | → |
| Escalante River Near Escalante | 0 cfs | → |
| Fremont River Near Bicknell | 54 cfs | → |
| East Fork Sevier River Near Kingston | 198 cfs | → |
| Sevier River Near Kingston | 8 cfs | → |
| Seven Mile Creek Near Fish Lake | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shurtliff-Behunin.
Campgrounds
- Durffey Mesa Dispersed - Burr Trail Rd - Grand Staircase Nat Mon
- Deer Creek- Burr Trail Rd - Grand Staircase Nat Mon
- Steep Creek Bench - Burr Trail Rd - Grand Staircase Nat Mon
- Calf Creek Recreation Area
- Calf Creek
- Horse Canyon - Grand Staircase Nat Mon
Fishing spots
Track Shurtliff-Behunin 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 Shurtliff-Behunin
Where does the data for Shurtliff-Behunin 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 Low 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 Shurtliff-Behunin.