Chief Joseph Dam, also known as Rufus Woods Lake, is a federal-owned gravity dam located on the Columbia River in Bridgeport, Washington. Completed in 1955, the dam serves primarily for hydroelectric power generation and recreation purposes. With a structural height of 230 feet and a hydraulic height of 205 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 593,000 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 1,200,000 cubic feet per second. Despite its solid construction and maintenance by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the dam poses a high hazard potential due to potential flooding risks in downstream communities like Bridgeport, Brewster, and Pateros.

USACE has implemented various risk management measures to mitigate threats to life safety and property, including enhanced monitoring, regular inspections, and maintenance of the dam structure. The agency closely monitors rainfall and snowpack forecasts to anticipate high river flow events and takes necessary flood operation actions to prevent overtopping and failure of the dam. Moreover, USACE collaborates with local emergency managers to update the Emergency Action Plan annually, conduct emergency exercises, and engage in stakeholder meetings to ensure a coordinated response in times of crisis. Despite the potential risks, Chief Joseph Dam remains a critical infrastructure for water resource management and energy production in the region.