Mountain Dell
Mountain Dell is a buttress dam located in Salt Lake County, Utah, built in 1916. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Mountain Dell
The primary purpose of Mountain Dell is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Salt Lake City Corporation (local government). It impounds the Parleys Creek near Salt Lake City.
The dam stands 105 feet tall and stretches 650 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,506 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 39 square miles. Completed in 1916, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/08/2023.
At 105 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 | Salt Lake |
| Nearest City | Salt Lake City |
| River/Stream | Parleys Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.75241, -111.72099 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Buttress |
| NID Height | 105 ft |
| Dam Length | 650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1916 (110 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,506 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,506 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,166 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 39 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 412 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | SALT LAKE CITY CORPORATION |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/08/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT00221 |
| Federal ID | UT00221 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |