Birch Creek No. 2
Birch Creek No. 2 is an earth dam located in Rich County, Utah, built in 1951. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Birch Creek No. 2
The primary purpose of Birch Creek No. 2 is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Woodruff Reservoir & Irrigation Company (private). It impounds the Birch Creek near Woodruff.
The dam stands 101 feet tall and stretches 474 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,736 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 square miles. Completed in 1951, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/02/2023.
At 101 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Utah dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Utah |
| County | Rich |
| Nearest City | Woodruff |
| River/Stream | Birch Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.50686, -111.31909 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 101 ft |
| Dam Length | 474 ft |
| Year Completed | 1951 (75 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,736 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,736 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,256 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 90 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | WOODRUFF RESERVOIR & IRRIGATION COMPANY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/02/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT00041 |
| Federal ID | UT00041 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |