Priest Lake

Priest Lake is a dam located in Bonner County, Idaho, built in 1979. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Priest Lake

Priest Lake is a dam in Bonner, Idaho. The dam is state-owned. It impounds the Priest Lake Priest River near Priest River.

The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 194 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 23,800 acres, has a storage capacity of 76,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 572 square miles. Completed in 1979, the structure is 47 years old.

This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/09/2019.

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Significant HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateIdaho
CountyBonner
Nearest CityPriest River
River/StreamPriest Lake Priest River
Coordinates48.49060, -116.90270

Physical Characteristics

NID Height12 ft
Dam Height12 ft
Dam Length194 ft
Year Completed1979 (47 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage76,100 acre-ft
Normal Storage76,100 acre-ft
Surface Area23,800 acres
Drainage Area572 sq mi
Max Discharge4,400 cfs
Spillway TypeControlled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeOther
Owner TypeState
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection05/09/2019
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDID00318
Federal IDID00318
More InfoState Dam Safety Program