Taming the western US largely told tales of successful projects delivering life-bringing irrigation water to thirsty land. Dams were built, canals were dug and reservoirs filled with water, and the vast majority of irrigation projects resulted in prosperity. But, not all projects were successes. In 1981, when the rock group, Styx released their classic rock anthem “Nothing Ever Goes as Planned,” it could very easily have been based on the hopes and shattered dreams associated with Oneida County’s Elkhorn Dam.
On Oct. 1, 1911, The Idaho Enterprise’s feature story read, “Big Reservoir to be put in. Big irrigation Project is now assured valley.” The proposed construction site seemed to be in the perfect solution to impound the streamflow of the Little Malad River.
recious irrigation water would be delivered to Malad Valley farmers. Projects recently successfully completed on Idaho’s Snake River and elsewhere, must have been tangible reminders of the rewards of a successful project. Malad resident James Tovey and his friend, Malad physician Doc Kern championed a dam delivering water to over 2,000 acres of farmland. Extensive and meticulous planning and copious surveys seemed to assure the project’s success, and investment capital was raised.
Construction materials were sent by train to Brigham City, then delivered to Malad, finally transported to the job site by horse-drawn wagons or sleighs. The dam, over 40 feet in height and reinforced with a concrete core wall running the full length and height of the dam made an imposing sight. With its 20-foot wide, ten-foot-deep spillway, designed to carry 2,000 feet of water per second, Utah State Geologist W.A. Person declared the project “tight as a jug.” Promising to deliver prosperity through its life-giving waters, hopes ran high as the project neared completion.
According to Tovey, eight or ten days went successfully and the waters rose. But then disaster struck as the pressure built and triumph turned to despair; the beautiful dream turned to disaster, as the water disappeared without a trace into the earth. The bottom seemingly dropped right out from beneath the dam, and not even a damp spot showed below the dam- it simply disappeared.
The Malad Reservoir Company made many attempts to halt the water from leaving the reservoir, drilling holes, filling with concrete, you name it, but after countless attempts, nothing worked, and the dam abandoned. Investments of over half a million dollars left only an imposing and somewhat eerie and silent concrete structure, decaying, and unused.
In 1967, a 95-foot-high earthern dam was constructed a few miles upstream of Elkhorn on the Little Malad River. Daniels Reservoir is a much more successful irrigation project. Filling to 375 acres, and located15 miles northwest of Malad City on Daniels Road, Daniels has delivered water to those farmers, while fostering a habitat for various species of fish, wildlife and waterfowl. At long last,a long-overdue happy ending was brought to an otherwise sad tale.
Sources: Google search Jan. 10, 2026; Patty Pickett’s Facebook post and resultant posts of its readers
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