Padden Lake Dam
Padden Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Whatcom County, Washington, built in 1933. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Padden Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Padden 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 Padden Creek near Bellingham.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 90 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 160 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1933, 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 | Padden Creek |
| Coordinates | 48.70379, -122.46269 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 90 ft |
| Year Completed | 1933 (93 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 160 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 465 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 | WA00364 |
| Federal ID | WA00364 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |