Zintel Canyon Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zintel Canyon Dam |
|
|---|---|
| Location | Kennewick, Benton County, Washington, USA |
| Coordinates | 46°10′29″N 119°11′01″W / 46.17472°N 119.18361°W |
| Construction began | March 1992 |
| Opening date | December 1992 |
| Operator(s) | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Operator) |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Zintel Canyon |
| Height | 90 feet (27 m) |
| Length | 520 feet (160 m) |
The Zintel Canyon Dam is a large wall built across Zintel Canyon. This canyon is located on the south side of Kennewick, a city in the state of Washington, USA. The dam was built in 1992. Its main job is to stop water in a part of the canyon that is usually dry for most of the year.
The area above the dam, called the watershed, is about 18 square miles (47 km²). This region is very dry, like a desert, and is part of the Horse Heaven Hills. The dam was created to keep parts of Kennewick safe from very big floods, like a "100-year flood." Even though it's rare, water has been seen behind the dam before.
Contents
Why Was Zintel Canyon Dam Built?
Even though the Kennewick area doesn't get much rain, strong thunderstorms can happen in the nearby hills during summer. These storms can cause a "flash flood." A flash flood is when a lot of water rushes down the canyon very quickly.
Protecting Kennewick from Floods
Before the dam was built, small floods from these storms or from fast-melting snow in the hills had filled Kennewick's Rainier Street seven times. The Zintel Canyon Dam was constructed to prevent this from happening again. It acts like a giant catcher's mitt for floodwaters.
How Does the Dam Help the City?
The Zintel Canyon Dam can hold a lot of water. Its maximum capacity is 1,260 acre-feet. This means it can store a large amount of water if a flood happens.
Improving Kennewick's Water Supply
In 2014, a project was started to help Kennewick get more water. This project caused some dirt and sand to build up behind the dam. This project helps the city store water underground in an area called Southridge. By doing this, Kennewick doesn't need to take as much water from the Columbia River.
