List of the tallest dams in United States

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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 39°32′20″N 121°29′08″W / 39.53889°N 121.48556°W / 39.53889; -121.48556 (Oroville) 1968
Hoover Dam[2]  AZ
 NV
726 221 Concrete gravity Colorado River 36°00′56″N 114°44′16″W / 36.01556°N 114.73778°W / 36.01556; -114.73778 (Hoover) 1936
Dworshak Dam[3]  ID 717 219 Concrete gravity N.F. Clearwater River 46°30′54″N 116°17′49″W / 46.51500°N 116.29694°W / 46.51500; -116.29694 (Dworshak) 1973
Glen Canyon Dam[4]  AZ 710 220 Concrete arch Colorado River 36°56′15″N 111°29′04″W / 36.93750°N 111.48444°W / 36.93750; -111.48444 (Glen Canyon) 1966
New Bullards Bar Dam  CA 645 197 Concrete arch N. Yuba River 39°23′36″N 121°08′35″W / 39.39333°N 121.14306°W / 39.39333; -121.14306 (New Bullards Bar) 1969
New Melones Dam  CA 625 191 Embankment Stanislaus River 37°56′50″N 120°31′41″W / 37.94722°N 120.52806°W / 37.94722; -120.52806 (New Melones) 1979
Mossyrock Dam  WA 606 185 Concrete arch Cowlitz River 46°32′04″N 122°25′34″W / 46.53444°N 122.42611°W / 46.53444; -122.42611 (Mossyrock) 1968
Shasta Dam  CA 602 183 Concrete gravity Sacramento River 40°43′07″N 122°25′08″W / 40.71861°N 122.41889°W / 40.71861; -122.41889 (Shasta) 1945
New Don Pedro Dam  CA 585 178 Embankment Tuolumne River 37°41′58″N 120°25′15″W / 37.69944°N 120.42083°W / 37.69944; -120.42083 (New Don Pedro) 1971
Hungry Horse Dam  MT 564 172 Concrete arch S.F. Flathead River 48°20′30″N 114°00′51″W / 48.34167°N 114.01417°W / 48.34167; -114.01417 (Hungry Horse) 1953
Grand Coulee Dam  WA 550 170 Concrete gravity Columbia River 47°57′21″N 118°58′54″W / 47.95583°N 118.98167°W / 47.95583; -118.98167 (Grand Coulee) 1942
Seven Oaks Dam  CA 550 170 Embankment Santa Ana River 34°08′45″N 117°03′45″W / 34.14583°N 117.06250°W / 34.14583; -117.06250 (Seven Oaks) 2000
Ross Dam  WA 540 160 Concrete arch Skagit River 48°43′54″N 121°04′02″W / 48.73167°N 121.06722°W / 48.73167; -121.06722 (Ross) 1949
Trinity Dam  CA 538 164 Embankment Trinity River 40°48′04″N 122°45′48″W / 40.80111°N 122.76333°W / 40.80111; -122.76333 (Trinity) 1962
Yellowtail Dam  MT 525 160 Concrete arch Bighorn River 45°18′24″N 107°57′29″W / 45.30667°N 107.95806°W / 45.30667; -107.95806 1967
Cougar Dam  OR 519 158 Embankment S.F. McKenzie River 44°07′44″N 122°14′25″W / 44.12889°N 122.24028°W / 44.12889; -122.24028 1964
Swift Dam  WA 512 156 Embankment Lewis River 46°04′47″N 122°11′52″W / 46.07972°N 122.19778°W / 46.07972; -122.19778 1958
Flaming Gorge Dam  UT 502 153 Concrete arch Green River 40°54′52″N 109°25′17″W / 40.91444°N 109.42139°W / 40.91444; -109.42139 1964
New Exchequer Dam  CA 490 150 Concrete-faced rockfill Merced River 37°35′10″N 120°16′10″W / 37.58611°N 120.26944°W / 37.58611; -120.26944 1967
Fontana Dam  NC 480 150 Concrete gravity Little Tennessee River 35°27′08″N 83°48′17″W / 35.45222°N 83.80472°W / 35.45222; -83.80472 1944
Morrow Point Dam  CO 468 143 Concrete arch Gunnison River 36°27′07″N 107°32′17″W / 36.45194°N 107.53806°W / 36.45194; -107.53806 1968
Detroit Dam  OR 463 141 Concrete gravity North Santiam River 44°43′15″N 122°14′59″W / 44.72083°N 122.24972°W / 44.72083; -122.24972 1953
Anderson Ranch Dam  ID 456 139 Embankment S.F. Boise River 43°21′27″N 115°26′55″W / 43.35750°N 115.44861°W / 43.35750; -115.44861 1950
Union Valley Dam  CA 453 138 Embankment Silver Creek 38°51′55″N 120°26′30″W / 38.86528°N 120.44167°W / 38.86528; -120.44167 1963
Carters Dam  GA 445 136 Embankment Coosawattee River 44°20′6″N 71°52′32″W / 44.33500°N 71.87556°W / 44.33500; -71.87556 1977
New Waddell Dam  AZ 440 130 Embankment Agua Fria River 33°50′49″N 112°15′58″W / 33.84694°N 112.26611°W / 33.84694; -112.26611 1994
Pine Flat Dam  CA 440 130 Concrete gravity Kings River 36°49′56″N 119°19′34″W / 36.83222°N 119.32611°W / 36.83222; -119.32611 1954
Round Butte Dam  OR 440 130 Embankment Deschutes River 44°36′11″N 121°16′40″W / 44.60306°N 121.27778°W / 44.60306; -121.27778 1964
Mud Mountain Dam  WA 432 132 Embankment White River 47°08′24″N 121°55′55″W / 47.14000°N 121.93194°W / 47.14000; -121.93194 1948
O'Shaughnessy Dam  CA 430 130 Concrete arch Tuolumne River 37°56′51″N 119°47′17″W / 37.94750°N 119.78806°W / 37.94750; -119.78806 1923
(1938)
Libby Dam  MT 422 129 Concrete gravity Kootenai River 48°24′42″N 115°18′34″W / 48.41167°N 115.30944°W / 48.41167; -115.30944 1975
Brownlee Dam  ID
 OR
420 130 Embankment Snake River 44°50′10″N 116°54′00″W / 44.83611°N 116.90000°W / 44.83611; -116.90000 1958
Owyhee Dam  OR 417 127 Concrete arch Owyhee River 43°38′31″N 117°14′33″W / 43.64194°N 117.24250°W / 43.64194; -117.24250 1932
Mammoth Pool Dam  CA 411 125 Embankment San Joaquin River 37°19′23″N 119°18′58″W / 37.32306°N 119.31611°W / 37.32306; -119.31611 1959
Hell Hole Dam  CA 410 120 Embankment Rubicon River 39°03′26″N 120°24′32″W / 39.05722°N 120.40889°W / 39.05722; -120.40889 1966
Navajo Dam  NM 402 123 Embankment San Juan River 36°48′01″N 107°36′45″W / 36.80028°N 107.61250°W / 36.80028; -107.61250 1962
Blue Mesa Dam  CO 390 120 Embankment Gunnison River 38°27′02″N 107°20′06″W / 38.45056°N 107.33500°W / 38.45056; -107.33500 1966
Summersville Dam  WV 390 120 Rockfill Gauley River 38°13′18″N 80°53′23″W / 38.22167°N 80.88972°W / 38.22167; -80.88972 1966
Diablo Dam  WA 389 119 Concrete arch Skagit River 48°42′51″N 121°07′52″W / 48.71417°N 121.13111°W / 48.71417; -121.13111 1930
Pyramid Dam  CA 386 118 Embankment Piru Creek 34°38′39″N 118°45′50″W / 34.64417°N 118.76389°W / 34.64417; -118.76389 1970
Jocassee Dam  SC 385 117 Embankment Keowee River 34°57′35″N 82°55′02″W / 34.95972°N 82.91722°W / 34.95972; -82.91722 1973
Pacoima Dam  CA 365 111 Variable radius arch Pacoima Creek 34°20′05″N 118°23′47″W / 34.33472°N 118.39639°W / 34.33472; -118.39639 (Pacoima) 1929
Theodore Roosevelt Dam  AZ 357 109 Concrete arch Salt River 33°40′18″N 111°09′40″W / 33.67167°N 111.16111°W / 33.67167; -111.16111 1911
(1996)
Arrowrock Dam  ID 350 110 Concrete arch Boise River 43°35′44″N 115°55′20″W / 43.59556°N 115.92222°W / 43.59556; -115.92222 1915
Buffalo Bill Dam  WY 350 110 Concrete arch Shoshone River 44°30′06″N 109°11′03″W / 44.50167°N 109.18417°W / 44.50167; -109.18417 1910
Jordanelle Dam  UT 345 105 Embankment Provo River 40°35′52″N 111°25′26″W / 40.59778°N 111.42389°W / 40.59778; -111.42389 1992
Pardee Dam  CA 345 105 Gravity Mokelumne River 38°15′27″N 120°51′01″W / 38.25750°N 120.85028°W / 38.25750; -120.85028 (Pardee) 1929
William L. Jess Dam  OR 345 105 Embankment Rogue River 42°40′17″N 122°40′30″W / 42.67139°N 122.67500°W / 42.67139; -122.67500 1976
Abiquiu Dam  NM 340 100 Embankment Rio Chama 36°14′17″N 106°25′33″W / 36.23806°N 106.42583°W / 36.23806; -106.42583 1963
(1986)
Boundary Dam  WA 340 100 Concrete arch-gravity Pend Oreille River 48°59′14″N 117°20′51″W / 48.98722°N 117.34750°W / 48.98722; -117.34750 1967
Castaic Dam  CA 340 100 Embankment Castaic Creek 34°31′09″N 118°36′25″W / 34.51917°N 118.60694°W / 34.51917; -118.60694 1973
Folsom Dam  CA 340 100 Concrete gravity,
embankment
American River 38°42′28″N 121°09′23″W / 38.70778°N 121.15639°W / 38.70778; -121.15639 1956
Lucky Peak Dam  ID 340 100 Embankment Boise River 43°31′42″N 116°03′11″W / 43.52833°N 116.05306°W / 43.52833; -116.05306 1955
San Vicente Dam  CA 337 103 Roller-Compacted Concrete Off-stream 32°54′44″N 116°55′28″W / 32.91222°N 116.92444°W / 32.91222; -116.92444 1943 (2014)
Ridgway Dam  CO 333 101 Embankment Uncompahgre River 38°14′15″N 107°45′33″W / 38.23750°N 107.75917°W / 38.23750; -107.75917 1987
Salt Springs Dam  CA 332 101 Rock-fill North Fork Mokelumne River 38°29′54″N 120°12′58″W / 38.49833°N 120.21611°W / 38.49833; -120.21611 (Salt Springs) 1931
Alder Dam  WA 330 100 Concrete arch Nisqually River 46°48′05″N 122°18′37″W / 46.80139°N 122.31028°W / 46.80139; -122.31028 1945
Hells Canyon Dam  ID
 OR
330 100 Concrete gravity Snake River 45°14′41″N 116°41′54″W / 45.24472°N 116.69833°W / 45.24472; -116.69833 1967
Green Peter Dam  OR 327 100 Concrete gravity M. Santiam River 44°27′07″N 122°32′49″W / 44.45194°N 122.54694°W / 44.45194; -122.54694 1967
Crystal Dam  CO 323 98 Concrete arch Gunnison River 38°30′38″N 107°37′31″W / 38.51056°N 107.62528°W / 38.51056; -107.62528 1976
Yale Dam  WA 323 98 Embankment Lewis River 45°57′51″N 122°19′57″W / 45.96417°N 122.33250°W / 45.96417; -122.33250 1953
Parker Dam  AZ
 CA
320 98 Concrete arch Colorado River 34°17′47″N 114°08′21″W / 34.29639°N 114.13917°W / 34.29639; -114.13917 1938
Tieton Dam  WA 319 97 Embankment Tieton River 46°39′23″N 121°07′46″W / 46.65639°N 121.12944°W / 46.65639; -121.12944 1925
Warm Springs Dam  CA 319 97 Rolled-earth embankment Dry Creek 38°43′06″N 123°00′46″W / 38.71833°N 123.01278°W / 38.71833; -123.01278 (Warm Springs) 1982
Friant Dam  CA 319 97 Concrete gravity San Joaquin River 37°00′02″N 119°42′19″W / 37.00056°N 119.70528°W / 37.00056; -119.70528 1942
Olivenhain Dam  CA 318 97 Concrete gravity off-stream 33°04′13″N 117°08′17″W / 33.07028°N 117.13806°W / 33.07028; -117.13806 (Olivenhain) 2003
Watauga Dam  TN 318 97 Rockfill Watauga River 36°19′25″N 82°07′22″W / 36.32361°N 82.12278°W / 36.32361; -82.12278 1948
Donnells Dam  CA 317 97 Concrete arch Middle Fork Stanislaus River 38°19′50″N 119°57′38″W / 38.33056°N 119.96056°W / 38.33056; -119.96056 1958
Cherry Valley Dam  CA 315 96 Earth and rock Cherry Creek 37°58′34″N 119°54′33″W / 37.97611°N 119.90917°W / 37.97611; -119.90917 (Cherry Valley) 1956
Courtright Dam  CA 315 96 Rock-fill Helms Creek 37°04′44″N 118°58′12″W / 37.07889°N 118.97000°W / 37.07889; -118.97000 (Courtright) 1958
San Gabriel Dam  CA 315 96 Embankment San Gabriel River 34°12′20″N 117°52′33″W / 34.20556°N 117.87583°W / 34.20556; -117.87583 1939
Merwin Dam  WA 313 95 Concrete arch Lewis River 45°57′24″N 122°33′18″W / 45.95667°N 122.55500°W / 45.95667; -122.55500 1931
Upper Stillwater Dam  UT 310 94 Concrete gravity Rock Creek 40°33′35″N 110°41′59″W / 40.55972°N 110.69972°W / 40.55972; -110.69972 1987
Bartlett Dam  AZ 309 94 Multiple arch buttress Verde River 33°49′05″N 111°37′54″W / 33.81806°N 111.63167°W / 33.81806; -111.63167 1939
Green Mountain Dam  CO 309 94 Embankment Blue River 39°52′39″N 106°19′49″W / 39.87750°N 106.33028°W / 39.87750; -106.33028 1942
Horse Mesa Dam  AZ 305 93 Concrete arch Salt River 33°35′27″N 111°20′38″W / 33.59083°N 111.34389°W / 33.59083; -111.34389 1927
San Luis Dam  CA 305 93 Embankment San Luis Creek 37°03′33″N 121°04′29″W / 37.05917°N 121.07472°W / 37.05917; -121.07472 1967
Teton Dam[n 1]  ID 305 93 Embankment Teton River 43°54′35″N 111°32′31″W / 43.90972°N 111.54194°W / 43.90972; -111.54194 1976
Monticello Dam  CA 304 93 Concrete arch Putah Creek 38°30′47″N 122°06′15″W / 38.51306°N 122.10417°W / 38.51306; -122.10417 1957
Elephant Butte Dam  NM 301 92 Concrete gravity Rio Grande 33°09′14″N 107°11′32″W / 33.15389°N 107.19222°W / 33.15389; -107.19222 1916
Gorge Dam  WA 300 91 Concrete gravity Skagit River 48°41′52″N 121°12′30″W / 48.69778°N 121.20833°W / 48.69778; -121.20833 1924
Smith Lake Dam  AL 300 91 Embankment Sipsey Fork 33°56′31″N 87°06′21″W / 33.94194°N 87.10583°W / 33.94194; -87.10583 1961
Moore Dam  NH
 VT
178 54 Embankment Connecticut River 34°36′55″N 84°40′26″W / 34.61528°N 84.67389°W / 34.61528; -84.67389 1957

Highest dams by state

State Name Height Type River Coordinates Built
ft m
 Alabama Smith Lake Dam 300 91 Embankment Sipsey Fork 33°56′31″N 87°06′21″W / 33.94194°N 87.10583°W / 33.94194; -87.10583 1961
 Alaska[5] Green Lake Dam 210 64 Concrete arch Vodopad River 56°59′08″N 135°06′48″W / 56.98556°N 135.11333°W / 56.98556; -135.11333
 Arizona Hoover Dam 726 221 Concrete arch Colorado River 36°00′56″N 114°44′16″W / 36.01556°N 114.73778°W / 36.01556; -114.73778 1936
 Arkansas[5] Bull Shoals Dam 256 78 Concrete gravity White River (Arkansas) 36°21′58″N 92°34′29″W / 36.36611°N 92.57472°W / 36.36611; -92.57472 1951
 California Oroville Dam 770 230 Embankment Feather River 39°32′20″N 121°29′08″W / 39.53889°N 121.48556°W / 39.53889; -121.48556 1968
 Colorado Morrow Point Dam 468 143 Concrete arch Gunnison River 36°27′07″N 107°32′17″W / 36.45194°N 107.53806°W / 36.45194; -107.53806 1968
 Connecticut[5] Colebrook River Dam 215 66 Embankment Farmington River 42°00′22″N 73°02′12″W / 42.00611°N 73.03667°W / 42.00611; -73.03667 1969
 Delaware[5] Edgar M. Hoopes Dam 135 41 Concrete gravity Old Mill Stream 39°46′27″N 75°38′03″W / 39.77417°N 75.63417°W / 39.77417; -75.63417 1932
 Florida
 Georgia Carters Dam 445 136 Embankment Coosawattee River 34°36′55″N 84°40′26″W / 34.61528°N 84.67389°W / 34.61528; -84.67389 1977
 Hawaii[5] Alexander Dam 113 34 Embankment Wahiawa Stream 21°57′30″N 159°31′32″W / 21.95833°N 159.52556°W / 21.95833; -159.52556 1931
 Idaho Dworshak Dam 717 219 Concrete gravity N.F. Clearwater River 46°30′54″N 116°17′49″W / 46.51500°N 116.29694°W / 46.51500; -116.29694 1973
 Illinois[5] Lake Shelbyville Dam 138 42 Embankment Kaskaskia River 39°24′33″N 88°46′50″W / 39.40917°N 88.78056°W / 39.40917; -88.78056 1970
 Indiana[5] Brookville Lake Dam 181 55 Embankment Whitewater River 39°26′23″N 84°59′56″W / 39.43972°N 84.99889°W / 39.43972; -84.99889 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
 Maine[5] Harris Dam 165 50 Concrete gravity Kennebec River 1955
 Maryland
 Massachusetts Wachusett Dam 205 62 Concrete gravity Nashua River 42°24′13″N 71°41′16″W / 42.40361°N 71.68778°W / 42.40361; -71.68778 1905
 Michigan
 Minnesota
 Mississippi
 Missouri
 Montana Hungry Horse Dam 564 172 Concrete arch S.F. Flathead River 48°20′30″N 114°00′51″W / 48.34167°N 114.01417°W / 48.34167; -114.01417 1953
 Nebraska[5] Medicine Creek Dam 165 50 Earthfill Medicine Creek 1949
 Nevada Hoover Dam 726 221 Concrete arch Colorado River 36°00′56″N 114°44′16″W / 36.01556°N 114.73778°W / 36.01556; -114.73778 1936
 New Hampshire Moore Dam 178 54 Embankment Connecticut River 34°36′55″N 84°40′26″W / 34.61528°N 84.67389°W / 34.61528; -84.67389 1957
 New Jersey Merrill Creek Dam 280 85 Embankment Merrill Creek 40°43′34″N 75°06′10″W / 40.72611°N 75.10278°W / 40.72611; -75.10278 1987
 New Mexico Navajo Dam 402 123 Embankment San Juan River 36°48′01″N 107°36′45″W / 36.80028°N 107.61250°W / 36.80028; -107.61250 1962
 New York[5] Lewiston Dam 389 119 Concrete gravity 1963
 North Carolina Fontana Dam 480 150 Concrete gravity Little Tennessee River 35°27′08″N 83°48′17″W / 35.45222°N 83.80472°W / 35.45222; -83.80472 1944
  North Dakota Garrison Dam 210 64 Embankment Missouri River 47°29′55″N 101°24′43″W / 47.49861°N 101.41194°W / 47.49861; -101.41194 1953
 Ohio William Harsha Dam 205 62 Rockfill East Fork Little Miami River 1973
 Oklahoma Broken Bow Dam 225 69 Embankment Mountain Fork River 34°08′44″N 94°41′08″W / 34.14556°N 94.68556°W / 34.14556; -94.68556 1968
 Oregon Cougar Dam 519 158 Embankment S.F. McKenzie River 44°07′44″N 122°14′25″W / 44.12889°N 122.24028°W / 44.12889; -122.24028 1964
 Pennsylvania
 Rhode Island
 South Carolina Jocassee Dam 385 117 Embankment Keowee River 34°57′35″N 82°55′02″W / 34.95972°N 82.91722°W / 34.95972; -82.91722 1973
 South Dakota Oahe Dam 245 75 Embankment Missouri River 44°27′04″N 100°24′08″W / 44.45111°N 100.40222°W / 44.45111; -100.40222 1962
 Tennessee Watauga Dam 318 97 Rockfill Watauga River 36°19′25″N 82°07′22″W / 36.32361°N 82.12278°W / 36.32361; -82.12278 1948
 Texas Mansfield Dam 278 85 Concrete gravity Colorado River (Texas) 30°23′30″N 97°54′26″W / 30.39167°N 97.90722°W / 30.39167; -97.90722 1941
 Utah Flaming Gorge Dam 502 153 Concrete arch Green River (Utah) 40°54′52″N 109°25′17″W / 40.91444°N 109.42139°W / 40.91444; -109.42139 1964
 Vermont Moore Dam 178 54 Embankment Connecticut River 34°36′55″N 84°40′26″W / 34.61528°N 84.67389°W / 34.61528; -84.67389 1957
 Virginia Smith Mountain Dam 235 72 Concrete arch Roanoke River 37°02′28″N 79°32′08″W / 37.04111°N 79.53556°W / 37.04111; -79.53556 1963
 Washington Mossyrock Dam 606 185 Concrete arch Cowlitz River 46°32′04″N 122°25′34″W / 46.53444°N 122.42611°W / 46.53444; -122.42611 1968
 West Virginia
 Wisconsin
 Wyoming Buffalo Bill Dam 350 110 Concrete arch Shoshone River 44°30′06″N 109°11′03″W / 44.50167°N 109.18417°W / 44.50167; -109.18417 1910

Location map

See also

Notes

  1. Dam failed during first filling in June 1976.

References

  1. "Oroville Facilities". California State Water Project. California Department of Water Resources. 2009-06-17. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  2. "Hoover Dam". Boulder Canyon Project. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. 2012-01-04. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  3. "Dworshak Dam". Idaho Public Television. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  4. "Glen Canyon Dam". Colorado River Storage Project. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. 2009-05-29. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Stanford National Performance of Dams Program". Stanford University. Retrieved 2012-12-19.

External links

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