Upper Wheeler Dam

About Upper Wheeler Dam

The primary purpose of Upper Wheeler Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Wenatchee Heights Reclamation District (public utility). It impounds the Orr Creek near Malaga.

The dam stands 65 feet tall and stretches 750 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 33 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 833 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1922, the structure is over a century old.

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. 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 09/22/2020.

At 65 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 Washington dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.

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