Starvation Canyon
Starvation Canyon is an earth dam located in San Juan County, Utah, built in 1985. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Starvation Canyon
The primary purpose of Starvation Canyon is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Blanding City (local government). It impounds the Johnson Creek - Offstream near Blanding.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 2,065 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 677 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1985, the structure is 41 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 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 09/27/2023.
At 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | San Juan |
| Nearest City | Blanding |
| River/Stream | Johnson Creek - Offstream |
| Coordinates | 37.68018, -109.48068 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,065 ft |
| Year Completed | 1985 (41 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 677 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 677 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 98 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | BLANDING CITY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/27/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT00199 |
| Federal ID | UT00199 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |