Zintel Canyon Dam
Zintel Canyon Dam is a concrete dam located in Benton County, Washington, built in 1992. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Zintel Canyon Dam
The primary purpose of Zintel Canyon Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Kennewick City Public Works (local government). It impounds the Zintel Canyon near Within Kennewick City Limits.
The dam stands 125 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 19 square miles. Completed in 1992, the structure is 34 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 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 09/14/2017. That was 8 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 125 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Benton |
| Nearest City | Within Kennewick City Limits |
| River/Stream | Zintel Canyon |
| Coordinates | 46.17476, -119.18380 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 125 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1992 (34 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 19 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 38,900 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Kennewick City Public Works |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/14/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WA00617 |
| Federal ID | WA00617 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |