U S Gypsum Reservoir Dam

About U S Gypsum Reservoir Dam

The primary purpose of U S Gypsum 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 United States Gypsum Company (private). It impounds the Tr-orchid Creek near Oakfield.

The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 4,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 45 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 247 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1927, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/30/2023.

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