East Canyon Dam
East Canyon Dam is a concrete dam located in Morgan County, Utah, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About East Canyon Dam
The primary purpose of East Canyon Dam 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 Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the East Canyon Creek near Portersville.
The dam stands 260 feet tall and stretches 436 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 684 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 58,350 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 143 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/01/2023.
At 260 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Morgan |
| Nearest City | Portersville |
| River/Stream | East Canyon Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.92040, -111.60090 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 260 ft |
| Dam Height | 260 ft |
| Dam Length | 436 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 58,350 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 58,350 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 51,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 684 acres |
| Drainage Area | 143 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/01/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT10119 |
| Federal ID | UT10119 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |