Van Stone Pit Lake Dam
Van Stone Pit Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Stevens County, Washington, built in 1999. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Van Stone Pit Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Van Stone Pit Lake Dam is tailings. Tailings dams contain waste material from mining operations — typically a slurry of finely ground rock left over after valuable minerals have been extracted. These structures require ongoing monitoring because tailings can contain heavy metals and other contaminants. The dam is owned by Vaagen Bros. (private). It impounds the Onion Creek.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 100 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 448 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1999, the structure is 27 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 09/08/2021.
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 | Stevens |
| River/Stream | Onion Creek |
| Coordinates | 48.75958, -117.76192 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1999 (27 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 448 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 448 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 439 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 86 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | Vaagen Bros. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/08/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WA02033 |
| Federal ID | WA02033 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |