Dams and the Environment

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Where are the Dams in Washington State?

The Department of Ecology provides lists of dam types and locations for the most of the dams in the state in their Inventory of Dams Report.

Most dams are privately owned, built for recreation or irrigation, and of earthen construction. Less than 7% of dams in Washington were constructed for the purpose of generating hydroelectricity. Washington has 1,125 dams; of those 380 of are located in six counties: King, Pierce, Lewis, Grant, Yakima and Chelan. All other counties each have less than 4% of the total number of dams in the state.