Chester No. 3 dam
Chester No. 3
Chester No. 3 is a privately owned dam located in Sanpete, Utah, regulated by the Utah Division of Water Rights. With a hydraulic height of 7 feet and a structural height of 15 feet, this earth dam serves a primary purpose of "Other" and has a normal storage capacity of 70 acre-feet. While it has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for condition assessment, it undergoes inspection every 5 years, with the last inspection conducted in May 2019.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will be intrigued by Chester No. 3's location at 25,15S~3E SL, its ownership by a private entity, and its relatively small storage capacity. Despite its low hazard potential and lack of a condition assessment rating, the dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state of Utah. Its presence in the Omaha District and its compliance with state regulations make it an interesting case study for those interested in the intersection of water management and climate resilience.
Overall, Chester No. 3 presents an intriguing combination of characteristics for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore. Its private ownership, state regulation, and low hazard potential provide a unique perspective on dam management and the challenges of balancing water needs with safety and environmental concerns. With its location in Sanpete, Utah, and its normal storage capacity of 70 acre-feet, Chester No. 3 offers a fascinating case study for those interested in the sustainable use and management of water resources in a changing climate.
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 Chester No. 3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ephraim Tunnel Near Ephraim | 7 cfs | → |
| Manti Creek Below Dugway Creek | 20 cfs | → |
| Fairview Tunnel Near Fairview | 3 cfs | → |
| Salt Crk Blw Nephi Powerplant Div | 7 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Nephi | 9 cfs | → |
| Mud Creek Bl Winter Quarters Canyon At Scofield | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chester No. 3.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- New Canyon Reservoir
- Lake Hill Community Reservoir
- Potters Ponds
- Fairview Lakes Observation Site
- Soup Bowl Reservoir
- Rolfson Reservoir
Paddle runs
Track Chester No. 3 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 Chester No. 3
Where does the data for Chester No. 3 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 Chester No. 3.