Scofield Dam
Scofield Dam is an earth dam located in Carbon County, Utah, built in 1946. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Scofield Dam
The primary purpose of Scofield Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Price River near Helper.
The dam stands 125 feet tall and stretches 575 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,810 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 73,600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 156 square miles. Completed in 1946, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/18/2021.
At 125 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 | Carbon |
| Nearest City | Helper |
| River/Stream | Price River |
| Coordinates | 39.78680, -111.11990 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 125 ft |
| Dam Height | 99 ft |
| Dam Length | 575 ft |
| Year Completed | 1946 (80 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 73,600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 73,600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 73,600 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,810 acres |
| Drainage Area | 156 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/18/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT10133 |
| Federal ID | UT10133 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |