Dams in Alaska
%!s(int=105)Total Dams
29High Hazard
41Significant
35Low Hazard
Dam Safety in Alaska
Alaska has 105 dams tracked in the National Inventory of Dams. Of these, 29 (27%) are classified as high hazard — meaning failure would probably cause loss of human life — and 41 are classified as significant hazard. Currently, 11 dams in the state have a condition assessment of poor or unsatisfactory, indicating recognized safety deficiencies.
The average dam in Alaska is 56 years old. The most common purpose for dams in Alaska is water supply, accounting for 48 of the state's dams.
Use the search above to find dams near any address in Alaska, or browse by county below. Each dam listing includes its hazard potential classification, condition assessment, physical characteristics, and inspection history from the NID.
Alaska Dam Facts
| Total Dams | 105 |
| High Hazard Dams | 29 |
| Average Dam Age | 56 years |
| Tallest Dam | 350 ft |
| Largest Reservoir | 266,000 acre-ft |
| Poor/Unsatisfactory Condition | 11 |
Notable Dams in Alaska
Counties in Alaska
Aleutians East Borough3 damsAleutians West Census Area9 damsBethel Census Area1 damsChugach Census Area5 dams2 high hazardCity and Borough of Juneau8 dams2 high hazardCity and Borough of Sitka3 dams1 high hazardCity and Borough of Wrangell2 dams2 high hazardDenali Borough1 damsFairbanks North Star Borough4 dams1 high hazardHoonah-Angoon Census Area1 damsKenai Peninsula Borough7 dams3 high hazardKetchikan Gateway Borough10 dams5 high hazardKodiak Island Borough18 dams2 high hazardLake and Peninsula Borough1 damsMatanuska-Susitna Borough4 damsMunicipality of Anchorage9 dams5 high hazardMunicipality of Skagway2 damsNorth Slope Borough2 damsNorthwest Arctic Borough5 dams2 high hazardPetersburg Borough3 dams1 high hazardPrince of Wales-Hyder Census Area4 dams2 high hazardSoutheast Fairbanks Census Area1 dams1 high hazardYukon-Koyukuk Census Area2 dams
High Hazard Dams in Alaska
| Dam | County | Height | Condition | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Lake | City and Borough of Sitka | 294 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Red Dog Tailings Main Dam | Northwest Arctic Borough | 208 ft | Satisfactory | Tailings |
| Salmon Creek | City and Borough of Juneau | 175 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Swan Lake | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 174 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Lake Connell | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 96 ft | Satisfactory | Water Supply |
| Pogo R.t.p. Dam | Southeast Fairbanks Census Area | 91 ft | Satisfactory | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Bettinger Upper Reservoir Dam | Kodiak Island Borough | 67 ft | Fair | Water Supply |
| Red Dog Tailings Back Dam | Northwest Arctic Borough | 66 ft | Satisfactory | Other |
| Bridge Creek Dam | Kenai Peninsula Borough | 65 ft | Fair | Water Supply |
| Moose Creek Dam - East Cutoff Dike | Fairbanks North Star Borough | 60 ft | Not Available | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Eklutna Dam | Municipality of Anchorage | 56 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Solomon Gulch Spillway | Chugach Census Area | 55 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Cooper Lake | Kenai Peninsula Borough | 52 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Ship Creek Dam | Municipality of Anchorage | 50 ft | Fair | Water Supply |
| Crystal Lake | Petersburg Borough | 43 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Whitman Lake | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 39 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| New Kake Dam | Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | 38 ft | Satisfactory | Water Supply |
| Chester Lake | Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | 35 ft | Satisfactory | Water Supply |
| Ketchikan Lakes | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 34 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Lowell Creek | Kenai Peninsula Borough | 34 ft | Not Rated | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Carlanna Lake | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 31 ft | Satisfactory | Water Supply |
| Wrangell Upper | City and Borough of Wrangell | 28 ft | Poor | Water Supply |
| Wrangell Lower | City and Borough of Wrangell | 28 ft | Poor | Water Supply |
| Douglas Island Dam | City and Borough of Juneau | 26 ft | Fair | Other |
| Meals Lake Dam | Chugach Census Area | 23 ft | Fair | Water Supply |
| Lower Fire Lake Dam | Municipality of Anchorage | 13 ft | Fair | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Lake "o" The Hills | Municipality of Anchorage | 13 ft | Fair | Other |
| Alitak Cannery Dam #1 | Kodiak Island Borough | 9 ft | Poor | Water Supply |
| Explorer Glacier Pond Dam | Municipality of Anchorage | 7 ft | Poor | Fish and Wildlife Pond |