Gunnison dam
Gunnison
Located in Gunnison, Utah, the Gunnison Dam stands as a vital structure for irrigation purposes along the San Pitch River. Completed in 1889, this earth dam has a hydraulic height of 28 feet and a structural height of 42 feet, with a storage capacity of 33,000 acre-feet. The dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region, with a normal storage capacity of 12,800 acre-feet and serving as a key component of the local water infrastructure.
Managed by the Utah Division of Water Rights, the Gunnison Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities, ensuring its safe operation. The dam has a high hazard potential but has been assessed as satisfactory in condition. With a spillway width of 164 feet and a length of 1,240 feet, the dam is equipped to handle potential risks and emergencies effectively. The last inspection conducted in July 2020 reaffirmed the dam's structural integrity and functionality, highlighting its importance for water management in the area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Gunnison Dam offers a fascinating insight into the intersection of engineering, infrastructure, and environmental stewardship. As a key irrigation structure in Sanpete County, Utah, the dam plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities and water supply management along the San Pitch River. With its long history and continued importance in the region, the Gunnison Dam stands as a testament to the ingenuity and foresight of water resource management in the American West.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Gunnison -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Manti Creek Below Dugway Creek | 17 cfs | → |
| Sevier River Blw San Pitch River | 60 cfs | → |
| Ephraim Tunnel Near Ephraim | 5 cfs | → |
| Sevier River Near Juab | 550 cfs | → |
| Salina Creek Near Emery | 4 cfs | → |
| Ferron Creek (Upper Station) Near Ferron | 39 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gunnison.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Palisade State Park
- Twin Lake Campground
- Upper Six Mile Ponds
- Upper Six Mile Ponds Campground
- Manti
- Manti Community Campground
Track Gunnison in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Gunnison
Where does the data for Gunnison come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Gunnison.