Lake Herbert G. West facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Herbert G. West
West Lake
Lake Herbert G. West Location in Washington (state) Show map of Washington (state) Lake Herbert G. West Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Franklin, Walla Walla, Columbia and Whitman counties, Washington state, U.S.
Coordinates	46°33′45″N 118°32′15″W / 46.56250°N 118.53750°W / 46.56250; -118.53750
Type	Reservoir
Primary inflows	Snake River
Primary outflows	Snake River
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	6,590 acres (2,670 ha)
Water volume	465,000,000 m3 (1.64×1010 cu ft)
Surface elevation	541 feet (165 m)

Lake Herbert G. West (or Lake West) is a reservoir formed by the Lower Monumental Dam in the U.S. state of Washington. It extends up the Snake River for 28 miles (45 km) to the tailwater of Little Goose Dam. It has a surface area of 6,590 acres (27 km²), a maximum storage capacity of 432,000 acre-feet (533,000,000 m³), normally kept at 377,000 acre-feet (465,000,000 m³).

As the reservoir filled in 1968, it flooded several archaeological sites, including the Marmes Rockshelter, which contained the oldest known artifacts in Washington, dating back over 10,000 years.

The lake was named for Herbert G. West, a major promoter of inland navigation on the Columbia and Snake rivers.