Quail Creek South Dam
Quail Creek South Dam is a gravity dam located in Washington County, Utah, built in 1990. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Quail Creek South Dam
The primary purpose of Quail Creek South Dam 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 Washington County Water Conservancy Dist (local government). It impounds the Virgin River Diversion near Washington.
The dam stands 80 feet tall and stretches 2,050 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 37,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 78 square miles. Completed in 1990, the structure is 36 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/24/2023.
At 80 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Washington |
| Nearest City | Washington |
| River/Stream | Virgin River Diversion |
| Coordinates | 37.17843, -113.39347 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,050 ft |
| Year Completed | 1990 (36 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 37,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 37,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 33,000 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 78 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | WASHINGTON COUNTY WATER CONSERVANCY DIST |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/24/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT00710 |
| Federal ID | UT00514S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |