Gunnison is an earth dam located in Sanpete County, Utah, built in 1889. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 42 ft42 ft tall and 1,240 ft long, taller than 88% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Gunnison
The primary purpose of Gunnison is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Gunnison Irrigation Company (private). It impounds the San Pitch River near Gunnison.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 1,240 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 33,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 670 square miles. Completed in 1889, 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 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 08/09/2023.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 88% of dams nationwide.
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 | Sanpete |
| Nearest City | Gunnison |
| River/Stream | San Pitch River |
| Coordinates | 39.20684, -111.71075 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,240 ft |
| Year Completed | 1889 (137 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 33,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 33,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 12,800 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 670 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Gunnison Irrigation Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/09/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT00130 |
| Federal ID | UT00130 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |