Little Falls Spillway Dam

About Little Falls Spillway Dam

The primary purpose of Little Falls Spillway Dam is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Avista Utilities (private). It impounds the Spokane River near Porcupine Bay.

The dam stands 72 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 4,250 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,250 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5,844 square miles. Completed in 1910, the structure is over a century old.

This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. 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 05/09/2019.

At 72 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.

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