List of the tallest dams in United States

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

This is a list of the tallest dams in the United States. The main list includes all U.S. dams over 300 feet (91 m) high, and a second list gives the highest dams in each state. Dimensions given are for foundation height, not hydraulic height or head. Structures such as levees, dikes and tailings dams are not included in the lists. Decommissioned or failed dams, such as Teton Dam in Idaho, are included. Both lists are works in progress and will be updated periodically with new information. There are currently 75 entries on the main list.

Most of the U.S.'s taller dams are located in the west because of the steeper and more rugged topography. The tallest is Oroville Dam in northern California, a 770-foot (230 m) embankment dam completed in 1968. Five of the ten highest dams in the U.S. are located in California. The Colorado, Columbia and SacramentoSan Joaquin river systems contain the greatest amount of high dams. In the eastern U.S., tall dams are less common because of the lesser vertical relief. The tallest dam in the eastern U.S. is 480-foot (150 m) Fontana Dam in North Carolina, which ranks 20th in height among all U.S. dams.

Key
daggerDam has been raised since initial construction

Highest dams

Hoover Dam, 2nd 
Fontana Dam, 20th 
Name State(s) Height Type River Coordinates Built
ft m
Oroville Dam[1]  CA 770 230 Embankment Feather River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1968
Hoover Dam[2]  AZ
 NV
726 221 Arch-gravity dam Colorado River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1936
Dworshak Dam[3]  ID 717 219 Concrete gravity N.F. Clearwater River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1973
Glen Canyon Dam[4]  AZ 710 220 Concrete arch Colorado River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1966
New Bullards Bar Dam  CA 645 197 Concrete arch N. Yuba River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1969
New Melones Dam  CA 625 191 Embankment Stanislaus River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1979
Mossyrock Dam  WA 606 185 Concrete arch Cowlitz River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1968
Shasta Dam  CA 602 183 Concrete gravity Sacramento River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1945
New Don Pedro Dam  CA 585 178 Embankment Tuolumne River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1971
Hungry Horse Dam  MT 564 172 Concrete arch S.F. Flathead River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1953
Grand Coulee Dam  WA 550 170 Concrete gravity Columbia River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1942
Seven Oaks Dam  CA 550 170 Embankment Santa Ana River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 2000
Ross Dam  WA 540 160 Concrete arch Skagit River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1949
Trinity Dam  CA 538 164 Embankment Trinity River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1962
Yellowtail Dam  MT 525 160 Concrete arch Bighorn River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1967
Cougar Dam  OR 519 158 Embankment S.F. McKenzie River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1964
Swift Dam  WA 512 156 Embankment Lewis River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1958
Flaming Gorge Dam  UT 502 153 Concrete arch Green River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1964
New Exchequer Dam  CA 490 150 Concrete-faced rockfill Merced River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1967
Fontana Dam  NC 480 150 Concrete gravity Little Tennessee River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1944
Morrow Point Dam  CO 468 143 Concrete arch Gunnison River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1968
Detroit Dam  OR 463 141 Concrete gravity North Santiam River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1953
Anderson Ranch Dam  ID 456 139 Embankment S.F. Boise River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1950
Union Valley Dam  CA 453 138 Embankment Silver Creek Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1963
Carters Dam  GA 445 136 Embankment Coosawattee River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1977
New Waddell Dam  AZ 440 130 Embankment Agua Fria River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1994
Pine Flat Dam  CA 440 130 Concrete gravity Kings River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1954
Round Butte Dam  OR 440 130 Embankment Deschutes River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1964
Mud Mountain Dam  WA 432 132 Embankment White River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1948
O'Shaughnessy Dam  CA 430 130 Concrete arch Tuolumne River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1923
(1938)
Libby Dam  MT 422 129 Concrete gravity Kootenai River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1975
Brownlee Dam  ID
 OR
420 130 Embankment Snake River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1958
Owyhee Dam  OR 417 127 Concrete arch Owyhee River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1932
Mammoth Pool Dam  CA 411 125 Embankment San Joaquin River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1959
Hell Hole Dam  CA 410 120 Embankment Rubicon River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1966
Navajo Dam  NM 402 123 Embankment San Juan River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1962
Blue Mesa Dam  CO 390 120 Embankment Gunnison River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1966
Summersville Dam  WV 390 120 Rockfill Gauley River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1966
Diablo Dam  WA 389 119 Concrete arch Skagit River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1930
Pyramid Dam  CA 386 118 Embankment Piru Creek Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1970
Jocassee Dam  SC 385 117 Embankment Keowee River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1973
Pacoima Dam  CA 365 111 Variable radius arch Pacoima Creek Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1929
Theodore Roosevelt Dam  AZ 357 109 Concrete arch Salt River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1911
(1996)
Arrowrock Dam  ID 350 110 Concrete arch Boise River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1915
Buffalo Bill Dam  WY 350 110 Concrete arch Shoshone River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1910
Jordanelle Dam  UT 345 105 Embankment Provo River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1992
Pardee Dam  CA 345 105 Gravity Mokelumne River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1929
William L. Jess Dam  OR 345 105 Embankment Rogue River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1976
Abiquiu Dam  NM 340 100 Embankment Rio Chama Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1963
(1986)
Boundary Dam  WA 340 100 Concrete arch-gravity Pend Oreille River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1967
Castaic Dam  CA 340 100 Embankment Castaic Creek Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1973
Folsom Dam  CA 340 100 Concrete gravity,
embankment
American River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1956
Lucky Peak Dam  ID 340 100 Embankment Boise River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1955
San Vicente Dam  CA 337 103 Roller-Compacted Concrete Off-stream Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1943 (2014)
Ridgway Dam  CO 333 101 Embankment Uncompahgre River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1987
Salt Springs Dam  CA 332 101 Rock-fill North Fork Mokelumne River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1931
Alder Dam  WA 330 100 Concrete arch Nisqually River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1945
Hells Canyon Dam  ID
 OR
330 100 Concrete gravity Snake River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1967
Green Peter Dam  OR 327 100 Concrete gravity M. Santiam River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1967
Crystal Dam  CO 323 98 Concrete arch Gunnison River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1976
Yale Dam  WA 323 98 Embankment Lewis River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1953
Parker Dam  AZ
 CA
320 98 Concrete arch Colorado River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1938
Tieton Dam  WA 319 97 Embankment Tieton River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1925
Warm Springs Dam  CA 319 97 Rolled-earth embankment Dry Creek Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1982
Friant Dam  CA 319 97 Concrete gravity San Joaquin River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1942
Olivenhain Dam  CA 318 97 Concrete gravity off-stream Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 2003
Watauga Dam  TN 318 97 Rockfill Watauga River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1948
Donnells Dam  CA 317 97 Concrete arch Middle Fork Stanislaus River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1958
Cherry Valley Dam  CA 315 96 Earth and rock Cherry Creek Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1956
Courtright Dam  CA 315 96 Rock-fill Helms Creek Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1958
San Gabriel Dam  CA 315 96 Embankment San Gabriel River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1939
Merwin Dam  WA 313 95 Concrete arch Lewis River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1931
Upper Stillwater Dam  UT 310 94 Concrete gravity Rock Creek Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1987
Bartlett Dam  AZ 309 94 Multiple arch buttress Verde River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1939
Green Mountain Dam  CO 309 94 Embankment Blue River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1942
Horse Mesa Dam  AZ 305 93 Concrete arch Salt River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1927
San Luis Dam  CA 305 93 Embankment San Luis Creek Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1967
Teton Dam[n 1]  ID 305 93 Embankment Teton River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1976
Monticello Dam  CA 304 93 Concrete arch Putah Creek Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1957
Elephant Butte Dam  NM 301 92 Concrete gravity Rio Grande Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1916
Gorge Dam  WA 300 91 Concrete gravity Skagit River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1924
Smith Lake Dam  AL 300 91 Embankment Sipsey Fork Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1961
Granby Dam  CO 298 91 Earthfill Colorado River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1950
Diamond Valley Dam  CA 284 87 Earthfill Colorado River Aqueduct Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1999
Moore Dam  NH
 VT
178 54 Embankment Connecticut River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1957

Highest dams by state

State Name Height Type River Coordinates Built
ft m
 Alabama Smith Lake Dam 300 91 Embankment Sipsey Fork Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1961
 Alaska[5] Green Lake Dam 210 64 Concrete arch Vodopad River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
 Arizona Hoover Dam 726 221 Concrete arch Colorado River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1936
 Arkansas[5] Bull Shoals Dam 256 78 Concrete gravity White River (Arkansas) Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1951
 California Oroville Dam 770 230 Embankment Feather River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1968
 Colorado Morrow Point Dam 468 143 Concrete arch Gunnison River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1968
 Connecticut[5] Colebrook River Dam 215 66 Embankment Farmington River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1969
 Delaware[5] Edgar M. Hoopes Dam 135 41 Concrete gravity Old Mill Stream Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1932
 Florida
 Georgia Carters Dam 445 136 Embankment Coosawattee River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1977
 Hawaii[5] Alexander Dam 113 34 Embankment Wahiawa Stream Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1931
 Idaho Dworshak Dam 717 219 Concrete gravity N.F. Clearwater River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1973
 Illinois[5] Lake Shelbyville Dam 138 42 Embankment Kaskaskia River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1970
 Indiana[5] Brookville Lake Dam 181 55 Embankment Whitewater River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1974
 Iowa Coralville Dam 132 40 Embankment Iowa River 1958
 Kansas[5] Cedar Bluff Dam 202 62 Embankment Smoky Hill River 1952
 Kentucky[5] Dix River Dam 287 87 Rockfill Dix River 1925
 Louisiana Toledo Bend Dam 110 34 Embankment Sabine River 1969
 Maine[5] Harris Dam 165 50 Concrete gravity Kennebec River 1955
 Maryland
 Massachusetts Wachusett Dam 205 62 Concrete gravity Nashua River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1905
 Michigan
 Minnesota
 Mississippi
 Missouri Table Rock Dam 220 67 Concrete gravity White River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1958
 Montana Hungry Horse Dam 564 172 Concrete arch S.F. Flathead River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1953
 Nebraska[5] Medicine Creek Dam 165 50 Earthfill Medicine Creek 1949
 Nevada Hoover Dam 726 221 Concrete arch Colorado River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1936
 New Hampshire Moore Dam 178 54 Embankment Connecticut River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1957
 New Jersey Merrill Creek Dam 280 85 Embankment Merrill Creek Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1987
 New Mexico Navajo Dam 402 123 Embankment San Juan River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1962
 New York[5] Lewiston Dam 389 119 Concrete gravity 1963
 North Carolina Fontana Dam 480 150 Concrete gravity Little Tennessee River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1944
  North Dakota Garrison Dam 210 64 Embankment Missouri River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1953
 Ohio William Harsha Dam 205 62 Rockfill East Fork Little Miami River 1973
 Oklahoma Broken Bow Dam 225 69 Embankment Mountain Fork River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1968
 Oregon Cougar Dam 519 158 Embankment S.F. McKenzie River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1964
 Pennsylvania Raystown Dam 190 58 Earthfill Raystown Branch Juniata River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1973
 Rhode Island
 South Carolina Jocassee Dam 385 117 Embankment Keowee River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1973
 South Dakota Oahe Dam 245 75 Embankment Missouri River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1962
 Tennessee Watauga Dam 318 97 Rockfill Watauga River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1948
 Texas Mansfield Dam 278 85 Concrete gravity Colorado River (Texas) Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1941
 Utah Flaming Gorge Dam 502 153 Concrete arch Green River (Utah) Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1964
 Vermont Moore Dam 178 54 Embankment Connecticut River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1957
 Virginia Smith Mountain Dam 235 72 Concrete arch Roanoke River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1963
 Washington Mossyrock Dam 606 185 Concrete arch Cowlitz River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1968
 West Virginia
 Wisconsin
 Wyoming Buffalo Bill Dam 350 110 Concrete arch Shoshone River Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1910

Location map

See also

Notes

  1. Dam failed during first filling in June 1976.

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links