Ice Harbor Lock And Dam
Ice Harbor Lock And Dam is a concrete dam located in Walla Walla County, Washington, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Ice Harbor Lock And Dam
The primary purpose of Ice Harbor Lock 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 - Walla Walla District (federal). It impounds the Snake River near Pasco.
The dam stands 208 feet tall and stretches 2,790 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8,375 acres, has a storage capacity of 406,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 103,200 square miles. Completed in 1962, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/15/2024.
At 208 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 Washington 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 | Washington |
| County | Walla Walla |
| Nearest City | Pasco |
| River/Stream | Snake River |
| Coordinates | 46.24876, -118.87950 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 208 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,790 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 406,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 406,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8,375 acres |
| Drainage Area | 103,200 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 850,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Walla Walla District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/15/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WA00347 |
| Federal ID | WA00347 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |