Butterworth Dam
Butterworth Dam is an earth dam located in Pierce County, Washington, built in 1949. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Butterworth Dam
The primary purpose of Butterworth Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Wa Doc (state). It impounds the Eden Creek.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 70 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1949, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/08/2021.
At 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Washington |
| County | Pierce |
| River/Stream | Eden Creek |
| Coordinates | 47.20511, -122.69435 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1949 (77 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 70 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 25 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | WA DOC |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/08/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WA00178 |
| Federal ID | WA00178 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |