Salt Lake County Federal Heights (#1a)
Salt Lake County Federal Heights (#1a) is an earth dam located in Salt Lake County, Utah, built in 1978. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Salt Lake County Federal Heights (#1a)
The primary purpose of Salt Lake County Federal Heights (#1a) is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Salt Lake County Public Works (local government). It impounds the Dry Creek near Salt Lake City.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, has a storage capacity of 16 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 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 09/21/2022.
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 | Salt Lake |
| Nearest City | Salt Lake City |
| River/Stream | Dry Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.77852, -111.83910 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | SALT LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/21/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT00527 |
| Federal ID | UT00527 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |