Centralia Coal Mine Pond 46a Dam
Centralia Coal Mine Pond 46a Dam is an earth dam located in Lewis County, Washington, built in 2004. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Centralia Coal Mine Pond 46a Dam
The primary purpose of Centralia Coal Mine Pond 46a 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 Transalta Centralia Mining Llc (public utility). It impounds the Unnamed Tr - Mitchell Creek.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 44 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 2004, the structure is relatively new.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/27/2015. That was 10 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
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 | Lewis |
| River/Stream | Unnamed Tr - Mitchell Creek |
| Coordinates | 46.69613, -122.76277 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 100 ft |
| Year Completed | 2004 (22 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 48 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 44 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 48 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 621 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TransAlta Centralia Mining LLC |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/27/2015 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WA00687 |
| Federal ID | WA00687 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |