Kens Lake
Kens Lake is an earth dam located in San Juan County, Utah, built in 1981. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Kens Lake
The primary purpose of Kens Lake is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Grand Water & Sewer Service Agency (private). It impounds the Mill Creek - Offstream near Moab.
The dam stands 95 feet tall and stretches 4,050 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,360 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/26/2023.
At 95 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 | San Juan |
| Nearest City | Moab |
| River/Stream | Mill Creek - Offstream |
| Coordinates | 38.48518, -109.42900 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 95 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,050 ft |
| Year Completed | 1981 (45 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,360 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,360 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,680 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 135 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | GRAND WATER & SEWER SERVICE AGENCY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/26/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT00393 |
| Federal ID | UT00393 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |