Utah County - Santaquin Debris
Utah County - Santaquin Debris is an earth dam located in Utah County, Utah, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Utah County - Santaquin Debris
The primary purpose of Utah County - Santaquin Debris is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Utah County (private). It impounds the Summit Creek near Santaquin.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 1,583 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 146 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 18 square miles. Completed in 1955, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 06/15/2022.
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 | Utah |
| Nearest City | Santaquin |
| River/Stream | Summit Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.95851, -111.78077 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,583 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 146 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 146 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 75 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 18 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | UTAH COUNTY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/15/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT00387 |
| Federal ID | UT00387 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |