Bonneville Locks And Dam
Bonneville Locks And Dam is a gravity dam located in Multnomah County, Oregon, built in 1938. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Bonneville Locks And Dam
The primary purpose of Bonneville Locks And Dam is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by Usace - Portland District (federal). It impounds the Columbia River near Bonneville.
The dam stands 197 feet tall and stretches 2,477 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20,600 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 537,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 240,000 square miles. Completed in 1938, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/31/2023.
At 197 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Oregon dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Oregon |
| County | Multnomah |
| Nearest City | Bonneville |
| River/Stream | Columbia River |
| Coordinates | 45.64426, -121.94086 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 197 ft |
| Dam Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,477 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 537,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 537,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 277,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20,600 acres |
| Drainage Area | 240,000 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 940,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Portland District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/31/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00001 |
| Federal ID | OR00001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |