Rolfson
Rolfson is an earth dam located in Sanpete County, Utah, built in 1934. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Rolfson
The primary purpose of Rolfson is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Huntington-cleveland Irrigation Company (private). It impounds the Rolfson Creek near Huntington.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 855 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,160 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1934, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 06/29/2023.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% 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 | Huntington |
| River/Stream | Rolfson Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.56352, -111.25573 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 855 ft |
| Year Completed | 1934 (92 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,160 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,160 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 56 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | HUNTINGTON-CLEVELAND IRRIGATION COMPANY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/29/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT00260 |
| Federal ID | UT00260 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |