Flaming Gorge Dam & Powerplant
Fact Sheet
*1995 data
Flaming Gorge Dam - History
| Construction authorized | April 11, 1956 |
| First construction contract awarded (temporary access road) | January 4, 1957 |
| Prime contract awarded | June 18, 1958 |
| Diversion of Green River around damsite | August 17, 1959 |
| First bucket of concrete | September 18, 1960 |
| Last bucket of concrete | November 15, 1962 |
| Start of storage, Flaming Gorge Reservoir | December 10, 1962 |
| First power generated | September 27, 1963 |
| Last generator completed | February 12, 1964 |
| Dedicated by Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson | August 17, 1964 |
Flaming Gorge Dam
| Height above bedrock | 502 feet |
| Height above original river channel | 455 feet |
| Maximum thickness | 151 feet |
| Thickness at crest | 27 feet |
| Crest length - (arch length at axis of dam) | 1,285 feet |
| Volume of concrete (dam only) | 986,644 cubic yards |
| Volume of concrete (Powerplant and miscellaneous) | 54,843 cubic yards |
| Total concrete | 1,041,487 cubic yards |
| Cost of dam and reservoir | $49,600,000 |
| Cost of powerplant and switchyard, movabale property, structures, etc., of which 96 percent will be repaid to the U.S. Treasury from the sale of power (76 percent of total with interest) | 65,300,000 |
Flaming Gorge Dam Excavation
| Total: 1,023,971 cubic yards of rock and sand including 1,775 feet of tunnels, 60 feet (maximum) below original river channel |
Flaming Gorge Powerplant
| Dimensions | 219 feet long 60 feet wide 94 feet high |
| Generating units | 3 |
| Capability/unit at rated head | 50,650 kW |
| Plant peak to date | 134,000 kW |
| Firstt unit on line | November 11, 1963 |
| Last unit on line | February 12, 1964 |
Flaming Gorge Reservoir
| Capacity, full (6,040 feet total) | 3,788,700 acre-feet |
| Capacity, active | 3,749,000 acre-feet |
| Depth of water at dam (when full) | 436 feet |
| Miles of shoreline (when full) | 375 miles |
Fishing
| Utah record brown trout caught march 4, 1977 - 33 lbs. 10 oz. |
| Utah record rainbow trout caught April 7, 1979 - 26 lbs. 2 oz. |
| Utah record lake trout caught 1988 - 51 lbs. 8 oz. |
| Utah record kokanee salmon caught 1984 - 5 lbs. 5 oz |
The Bureau of Reclamation administers the operation and maintenance of the Flaming Gorge Dam, Powerplant, and Reservoir. The U.S. Forest Service administers the recreational facilities of the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. That agency operates the Flaming Gorge Visitor Center in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclmation. The Forest Service has primary responsibility for developing the commercial area of Dutch John, Utah.