Meadow Lake Dam
Meadow Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Chelan County, Washington, built in 1920. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Meadow Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Meadow Lake Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Galler Ditch Co. (private). It impounds the Tr-columbia River near Malaga.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 40 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 578 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1920, the structure is over a century 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 05/11/2022.
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 | Chelan |
| Nearest City | Malaga |
| River/Stream | Tr-columbia River |
| Coordinates | 47.36034, -120.21473 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 578 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 578 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 360 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 300 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Galler Ditch Co. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/11/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WA00072 |
| Federal ID | WA00072 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |