Red Butte Dam
Red Butte Dam is an earth dam located in Salt Lake County, Utah, built in 1930. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Red Butte Dam
The primary purpose of Red Butte 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 Salt Lake City Corporation (local government). It impounds the Red Butte Creek near Salt Lake City.
The dam stands 128 feet tall and stretches 435 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 565 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1930, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 09/08/2023.
At 128 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 | Salt Lake |
| Nearest City | Salt Lake City |
| River/Stream | Red Butte Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.78018, -111.81244 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 128 ft |
| Dam Length | 435 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 565 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 565 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 385 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 39 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | SALT LAKE CITY CORPORATION |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/08/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT10101 |
| Federal ID | UT10101 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |