Spectacle Lake is an earth dam located in Garfield County, Utah, built in 1940. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 45 ft45 ft tall and 750 ft long, taller than 90% 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 Spectacle Lake
The primary purpose of Spectacle Lake is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Boulder Irrigation & Water Development (private). It impounds the Boulder Creek near Boulder.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 750 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,450 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1940, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 08/16/2023.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 90% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Utah |
| County | Garfield |
| Nearest City | Boulder |
| River/Stream | Boulder Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.08017, -111.50740 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,450 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,450 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,348 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Boulder Irrigation & Water Development |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 08/16/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT00286 |
| Federal ID | UT00286 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |