Sunflower Reservoir Dam

About Sunflower Reservoir Dam

The primary purpose of Sunflower Reservoir Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Ellison Ranching Company (private). It impounds the Gold Creek-tr.

The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 200 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,057 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1889, the structure is over a century old.

This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/24/2023.

At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 90% of dams nationwide.

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