Silver Lake Dam

Outlet Creek· Cowlitz, Washington· Built 1971· Earth·
Low Hazard Flood Risk Reduction Recreation Local Government

Key Takeaway

Silver Lake Dam is classified as low hazard in Washington. It was completed in 1971 and is 55 years old. Its primary use is flood risk reduction.

Physical Details

Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage11.7K acre-ft
Normal Storage7.5K acre-ft
Surface Area2,300 acres
Drainage Area39 sq mi
Max Discharge1,783 cfs
Year Completed1971 (55 years old)
NID IDWA00142

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
Last Inspection: October 4, 2023
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: Washington Dept of Ecology

Ownership

Silver Lake Flood Control Dist.

Local Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Silver Lake Dam?

Silver Lake Dam is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Silver Lake Dam?

Silver Lake Dam is owned by Silver Lake Flood Control Dist. (Local Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Silver Lake Dam built?

Silver Lake Dam was completed in 1971, making it 55 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Silver Lake Dam?

Silver Lake Dam serves the following purposes: Flood Risk Reduction, Recreation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

When was Silver Lake Dam last inspected?

Silver Lake Dam was last inspected on October 4, 2023. Inspection dates indicate when a formal review occurred, not the results of that inspection.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.