Kolob Creek Dam (National ID # UT00164) is a dam in

Washington County, Utah Washington County is a county in the southwestern corner of Utah, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 180,279, making it the fifth-most populous county in Utah. Its county seat and largest city is St. Georg ...

. The earthen dam was constructed in 1956 by the Hurricane Canal Company and Washington Fields Canal Company, with a height of 67 feet, and a length of 686 feet at its crest. It impounds Kolob Creek for flood control and irrigation water storage. The dam is now owned and operated by the local Washington County Water Conservation District. The reservoir it creates,

Kolob Reservoir Kolob Reservoir is a reservoir in southern Utah on Kolob Mountain, created by the 1956 Kolob Creek Dam. There are two entrances to Kolob: one is in the town of Virgin and the other is near Cedar City, Utah Cedar City is the largest city in Ir ...

, has a water surface of 249 acres, and a maximum capacity of 6914

acre-feet The acre-foot is a non- SI unit of volume equal to about commonly used in the United States in reference to large-scale water resources, such as reservoirs, aqueducts, canals, sewer flow capacity, irrigation water, and river flows. An acre-f ...

. Recreation is limited. In the winter, the reservoir is only accessible by

snowmobile A snowmobile, also known as a Ski-Doo, snowmachine, sled, motor sled, motor sledge, skimobile, or snow scooter, is a motorized vehicle designed for winter travel and recreation on snow. It is designed to be operated on snow and ice and does not ...

. The reservoir is surrounded by private land, so camping is only allowed near the lake, and fences mark the start of private land on almost all the reservoir shores. Fishing is allowed under special regulations. Through the 2000s the Conservation District continued to develop the reservoir's size and recreational facilities. Technical climbers in the rugged, downstream

slot canyon A slot canyon is a long, narrow channel or drainageway with sheer rock walls that are typically eroded into either sandstone or other sedimentary rock. A slot canyon has depth-to-width ratios that typically exceed 10:1 over most of its length and ...

along Kolob Creek in

Zion National Park Zion National Park is an American national park located in southwestern Utah near the town of Springdale. Located at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert regions, the park has a unique geography and a variety ...

are advised to contact the Conservation District for its water release schedule from the dam, because water releases can pose a deadly risk.

References

{{coord, 37.431667, -113.047778, format=dms, display=title, type:landmark Dams in Utah United States local public utility dams Dams completed in 1956 Buildings and structures in Washington County, Utah