Joes Valley
Joes Valley is an earth dam located in Emery County, Utah, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Joes Valley
The primary purpose of Joes Valley is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Emery Water Conservancy District (local government). It impounds the Seely Creek near Orangeville.
The dam stands 192 feet tall and stretches 750 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 74,237 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 144 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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 10/10/2023.
At 192 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Emery |
| Nearest City | Orangeville |
| River/Stream | Seely Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.29018, -111.27073 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 192 ft |
| Dam Length | 750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 74,237 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 74,237 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 61,538 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 144 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 385 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Emery Water Conservancy District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/10/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT10124 |
| Federal ID | UT10124 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |