| Alder Dam | |
| Dam Crosses: | Nisqually River |
| Res Name: | Alder Lake |
| Location: | Pierce / Thurston counties, Washington |
| Dam Length: | 1600feet |
| Dam Height: | 330feet |
| Dam Width Base: | 120feet[1] |
| Construction Began: | 1942 |
| Opening: | 1945 |
| Res Capacity Total: | 241950acre.ft |
| Res Catchment: | 286sqmi |
| Res Surface: | 3065acres |
| Plant Turbines: | 2 x 25 MW |
| Plant Capacity: | 50 MW |
| Plant Annual Gen: | 197,830,000 KWh[2] |
| Coordinates: | 46.8015°N -122.3104°W |
Alder Dam is a concrete thick arch dam on the Nisqually River in the U.S. state of Washington. The construction began in 1942 and was completed in 1945.[3] At this time Alder Dam was among the tallest dams in the United States, although this title has since been surpassed. The impounded water behind the dam forms Alder Lake, stretching about 7miles upstream with a capacity of 241950acre feet. With 28miles of shoreline, the lake is a popular recreation spot close to Mount Rainier National Park.
Water from Alder Lake is sent into two generators at the base of the dam, each of which produces 25 megawatts for a total nameplate capacity of 50 megawatts. Two miles downstream is LaGrande Dam, site of the first dam in the area, dating from 1912, and rebuilt in 1945 along with Alder's construction. Most of the energy produced at the dam is sent to the city of Tacoma, about 25miles north.[4] Both Alder and LaGrande dams are owned and operated by Tacoma Power.
The name of the lake and the dam recalls the former small town of Alder, which was flooded in 1945 by the impounded water of the lake and disappeared.[5] The current community of Alder is located north of the reservoir.