Starvation Dam
Starvation Dam is an earth dam located in Duchesne County, Utah, built in 1970. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Starvation Dam
The primary purpose of Starvation Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Department Of The Interior (federal). It impounds the Strawberry River near Duchesne.
The dam stands 210 feet tall and stretches 3,070 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,310 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 186,990 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,058 square miles. Completed in 1970, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/08/2021.
At 210 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 | Duchesne |
| Nearest City | Duchesne |
| River/Stream | Strawberry River |
| Coordinates | 40.19100, -110.44350 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 210 ft |
| Dam Height | 210 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,070 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 186,990 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 186,990 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 165,320 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,310 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,058 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 16,600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/08/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | UT10136 |
| Federal ID | UT10136 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |