French Canyon Dam
French Canyon Dam is an earth dam located in Yakima County, Washington, built in 1985. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About French Canyon Dam
The primary purpose of French Canyon Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the North Fork Cowiche near Tieton.
The dam stands 74 feet tall and stretches 1,150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 21 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 645 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1985, the structure is 41 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 08/03/2020.
At 74 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Yakima |
| Nearest City | Tieton |
| River/Stream | North Fork Cowiche |
| Coordinates | 46.71170, -120.79210 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 74 ft |
| Dam Height | 74 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1985 (41 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 645 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 645 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 23,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/03/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WA00433 |
| Federal ID | WA00433 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |