Upper Falls Intake Dam is a gravity dam located in Spokane County, Washington, built in 1922. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 20 ft20 ft tall and 106 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Upper Falls Intake Dam
The primary purpose of Upper Falls Intake 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 Corporation (private). It impounds the Spokane River.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 106 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 150 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4,255 square miles. Completed in 1922, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 08/16/2022.
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Location
| State | Washington |
| County | Spokane |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Spokane River |
| Coordinates | 47.66110, -117.42080 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 106 ft |
| Year Completed | 1922 (104 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 150 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4,255 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Avista Corporation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/16/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WA00038 |
| Federal ID | WA00038S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |