Kennecott Smelter Kessler Cnyn #11 is an earth dam located in Salt Lake County, Utah, built in 1980. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 51 ft51 ft tall and 1,715 ft long, taller than 93% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Kennecott Smelter Kessler Cnyn #11
The primary purpose of Kennecott Smelter Kessler Cnyn #11 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 Kennecott Utah Copper, LLC (private). It impounds the Kessler Canyon near Kennecott Smelter.
The dam stands 51 feet tall and stretches 1,715 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 388 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 years old.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/15/2022.
At 51 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Utah |
| County | Salt Lake |
| Nearest City | Kennecott Smelter |
| River/Stream | Kessler Canyon |
| Coordinates | 40.71046, -112.16893 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,715 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 388 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 388 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 179 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Kennecott Utah Copper, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 06/15/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT00486 |
| Federal ID | UT00486 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |