Big East
Big East is an earth dam located in Utah County, Utah, built in 1898. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Big East
The primary purpose of Big East is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Payson City Corporation (private). It impounds the Wimmer Ranch Creek-offstream near Payson.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 475 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 980 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1898, the structure is over a century 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 10/04/2023.
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 | Utah |
| Nearest City | Payson |
| River/Stream | Wimmer Ranch Creek-offstream |
| Coordinates | 39.93851, -111.63909 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 475 ft |
| Year Completed | 1898 (128 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 980 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 980 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 414 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 66 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | PAYSON CITY CORPORATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/04/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT00034 |
| Federal ID | UT00034 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |