Moxee Valley Orchards Dam
Moxee Valley Orchards Dam is an earth dam located in Yakima County, Washington, built in 1985. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Moxee Valley Orchards Dam
The primary purpose of Moxee Valley Orchards Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Moxee Valley Orchards C/o Conserv. Resource Prtnrs (private). It impounds the Tr-yakima River near Moxee City.
The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 392 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 515 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1985, the structure is 41 years 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/08/2015. That was 10 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 86% 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 | Yakima |
| Nearest City | Moxee City |
| River/Stream | Tr-yakima River |
| Coordinates | 46.49960, -120.09962 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1985 (41 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 515 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 515 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 392 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 392 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,500 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Moxee Valley Orchards c/o Conserv. Resource Prtnrs |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/08/2015 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WA00506 |
| Federal ID | WA00506 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |