Aberdeen Lake Dam
Aberdeen Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Grays Harbor County, Washington, built in 1928. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Aberdeen Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Aberdeen Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Aberdeen City (local government). It impounds the Van Winkle Creek near Aberdeen.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 65 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1928, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 04/09/2025.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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 | Grays Harbor |
| Nearest City | Aberdeen |
| River/Stream | Van Winkle Creek |
| Coordinates | 46.98061, -123.74244 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1928 (98 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 680 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 65 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,975 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Aberdeen City |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/09/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WA00112 |
| Federal ID | WA00112 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |