Ninemile
Ninemile is an earth dam located in Sanpete County, Utah, built in 1900. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Ninemile
The primary purpose of Ninemile 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 Nine Mile Creek near Gunnison.
The dam stands 55 feet tall and stretches 825 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1900, 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 08/09/2023.
At 55 feet, this dam is taller than 94% 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 | Nine Mile Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.17412, -111.71612 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Length | 825 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,500 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 122 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | GUNNISON IRRIGATION COMPANY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/09/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT00138 |
| Federal ID | UT00138 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |