Chiawana Frenchman Hills Dam
Chiawana Frenchman Hills Dam is an earth dam located in Grant County, Washington, built in 1995. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Chiawana Frenchman Hills Dam
The primary purpose of Chiawana Frenchman Hills Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Chiawana Orchards Llc (private). It impounds the Offstream.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 770 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 31 acre-feet. Completed in 1995, the structure is 31 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 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 07/16/2024.
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 | Grant |
| River/Stream | Offstream |
| Coordinates | 46.95364, -119.57020 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 770 ft |
| Year Completed | 1995 (31 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 31 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 31 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 29 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Chiawana Orchards LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WA01974 |
| Federal ID | WA01974 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |