Merchant Valley is an earth dam located in Beaver County, Utah, built in 1917. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 34 ft34 ft tall and 160 ft long, taller than 78% 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 Merchant Valley
The primary purpose of Merchant Valley is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City of Beaver (private). It impounds the Beaver River near Beaver.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 160 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 46 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 39 square miles. Completed in 1917, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 07/07/2022.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Utah |
| County | Beaver |
| Nearest City | Beaver |
| River/Stream | Beaver River |
| Coordinates | 38.28849, -112.44410 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 160 ft |
| Year Completed | 1917 (109 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 46 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 46 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 39 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | City of Beaver |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/07/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT00371 |
| Federal ID | UT00371 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |