Ash Creek
Ash Creek is a rockfill dam located in Washington County, Utah, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Ash Creek
The primary purpose of Ash Creek is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Washington County Water Conservancy Dist (private). It impounds the Ash Creek near Pintura.
The dam stands 138 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 12,250 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 134 square miles. Completed in 1960, 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 08/10/2023.
At 138 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 | Washington |
| Nearest City | Pintura |
| River/Stream | Ash Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.41230, -113.23572 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 138 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12,250 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12,250 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,175 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 134 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 211 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | WASHINGTON COUNTY WATER CONSERVANCY DIST |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/10/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT00010 |
| Federal ID | UT00010 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |