Utaba Retarding
Utaba Retarding is an earth dam located in Weber County, Utah, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Utaba Retarding
The primary purpose of Utaba Retarding 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 Weber County (local government). It impounds the North Fork Ogden River near Camp Utaba.
The dam stands 71 feet tall and stretches 369 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 180 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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 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 10/05/2023.
At 71 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Weber |
| Nearest City | Camp Utaba |
| River/Stream | North Fork Ogden River |
| Coordinates | 41.38866, -111.90968 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 71 ft |
| Dam Length | 369 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 91 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 161 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | WEBER COUNTY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/05/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT00541 |
| Federal ID | UT00541 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |