Whatcom Lake Dam
Whatcom Lake Dam is a gravity dam located in Whatcom County, Washington, built in 1937. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Whatcom Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Whatcom Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bellingham City Public Works Dept (local government). It impounds the Whatcom Creek near Bellingham.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 109 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5,000 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 70,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 55 square miles. Completed in 1937, 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 04/10/2018. That was 7 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 |
| Nearest City | Bellingham |
| River/Stream | Whatcom Creek |
| Coordinates | 48.75787, -122.42247 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 109 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 70,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 70,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 25,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5,000 acres |
| Drainage Area | 55 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,000 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Bellingham City Public Works Dept |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/10/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WA00158 |
| Federal ID | WA00158 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |