Bellingham Airport Sw Detention Pond 3
Bellingham Airport Sw Detention Pond 3 is an earth dam located in Whatcom County, Washington, built in 2011. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Bellingham Airport Sw Detention Pond 3
The primary purpose of Bellingham Airport Sw Detention Pond 3 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 Port Of Bellingham (local government).
The dam stands 8 feet tall, and has a maximum storage capacity of 44 acre-feet. Completed in 2011, 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 09/21/2017. That was 8 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Whatcom |
| Coordinates | 48.78835, -122.54445 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Year Completed | 2011 (15 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 44 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 44 acre-ft |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Port of Bellingham |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/21/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WA02040 |
| Federal ID | WA02040 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |