Newman Lake Flood Control Dam
Newman Lake Flood Control Dam is an earth dam located in Spokane County, Washington, built in 1976. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Newman Lake Flood Control Dam
The primary purpose of Newman Lake Flood Control Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Newman Lake Flood Control Zone District (local government). It impounds the Thompson Creek near Moab.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 8,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,200 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 11,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 27 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 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. 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 07/14/2017. That was 8 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Spokane |
| Nearest City | Moab |
| River/Stream | Thompson Creek |
| Coordinates | 47.77067, -117.08077 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 8,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 11,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 11,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,200 acres |
| Drainage Area | 27 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 285 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Newman Lake Flood Control Zone District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/14/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WA00396 |
| Federal ID | WA00396 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |