Red Butte Dam dam
Red Butte Dam
Red Butte Dam, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, along Red Butte Creek, was completed in 1930 and serves as a vital water supply structure for the region. Owned and regulated by the Utah Division of Water Rights, the dam stands at a hydraulic height of 118 feet and a structural height of 128 feet, with a storage capacity of 565 acre-feet. The dam is primarily used for water supply purposes and is essential in managing the water resources in the area.
With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment, Red Butte Dam is regularly inspected to ensure its safety and effectiveness. The dam has a history of meeting regulatory standards and has been designated as being under state jurisdiction and regulation. Although there are no associated structures with the dam, its presence plays a crucial role in maintaining the water supply for the surrounding community and protecting against potential floods or emergencies.
Red Butte Dam, nestled in the picturesque landscape of Salt Lake City, stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management and climate resilience. Its construction and operation demonstrate the efforts taken by local government authorities to safeguard water sources and ensure sustainable access to this precious resource. As a key player in the region's water infrastructure, Red Butte Dam serves as a reminder of the intersection between human needs, environmental conservation, and climate adaptation in the face of changing 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 Red Butte Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red Butte Creek At Fort Douglas | 1 cfs | → |
| Jordan River @ 1700 South @ Salt Lake City | 143 cfs | → |
| Surplus Canal @ Salt Lake City | 214 cfs | → |
| Little Cottonwood Creek @ Jordan River Nr Slc | 38 cfs | → |
| East Canyon Creek Near Jeremy Ranch | 21 cfs | → |
| East Canyon Creek Ab East Cyn Res Nr Morgan | 22 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Red Butte Dam.
Boat launches
- Redwood Road Salt Lake City
- Jordan River Drive 1328, North Salt Lake
- Bountiful Lake
- Oquirrh Lake Boat Ramp
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway Magna
- State Route 319 Wasatch County
Campgrounds
- Camp Kostopulos
- Jordan Pines Group Campground
- Spruces Campground
- Spruces
- Bountiful Peak Campground
- East Canyon State Park
Fishing spots
- Mill Canyon Fishing Dock And Boardwalk
- Lake Florence
- Lake Lillian
- Lake Desolation
- Lake Solitude
- White Pine Lake
Track Red Butte Dam 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 Red Butte Dam
Where does the data for Red Butte Dam 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 Red Butte Dam.