Utah’s historic Sevier Bridge Dam, a century-old structure vital to Yuba Reservoir, has been recognized with a prestigious national award from the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO). The project was named Project of the Year, highlighting Utah’s growing leadership in dam modernization and public safety.
The award acknowledges the extensive, multi-year rehabilitation effort that strengthened one of the state’s most important water storage structures. Originally built in 1906, the dam underwent seismic upgrades, a full spillway replacement and major structural improvements to meet modern safety requirements and withstand extreme hydrologic events.
A Major Upgrade to a High-Hazard Dam
The Utah Division of Water Rights classifies more than 100 dams statewide as high hazard, meaning failure could pose significant risks to downstream communities. The Sevier Bridge Dam—standing 92 feet tall and stretching 1,340 feet—holds 227,000 acre-feet of water, making it the largest privately owned reservoir in Utah.
With a massive 5,160-square-mile drainage basin, the dam must safely pass a Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) of 53,200 cubic feet per second, far beyond the capacity of its outdated spillway. The new construction expanded the spillway significantly, improving both efficiency and emergency resilience.
Matt Call, assistant state engineer for dam safety, emphasized the project’s importance and the collaborative effort involved.
“It was a really great award and recognition for the project,” he said. “The project was a great success, with features rarely used in new construction.”
Engineering Through Extreme Weather
What began as a routine reconstruction quickly became a real-world test of emergency planning. Construction started during drought conditions in 2022, but Utah soon experienced its wettest winter on record. As spring runoff approached, crews implemented a detailed emergency action plan to stabilize the site and adjust inflow forecasts.
The ASDSO said the experience revealed both strengths and weaknesses in Utah’s river forecasting system and would help guide improvements for similar projects statewide.
Cost, Funding and Long-Term Impact
The reconstruction cost nearly $28 million, with Utah legislation covering 90% of the project expenses, significantly reducing the financial burden on the Sevier Bridge Reservoir Company, which owns the dam.
The successful overhaul ensures the dam can continue supporting irrigation, recreation and local water needs while meeting modern safety standards.
For the ASDSO, Sevier Bridge Dam stands as a model for how historic infrastructure can be strengthened through engineering innovation, collaborative planning and proactive emergency management.
