Samarra Barrage

{{Infobox dam

| name =Samarra Dam

| image =Samarra Barrage USACE NWD.jpg

| image_caption =

| name_official =

| location_map = Iraq

| location_map_size =

| location_map_caption =

| coordinates = {{coord|34|11|45|N|43|51|02|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| dam_elevation_crest = Approx. {{Convert|65|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

| dam_crosses =Tigris River

| res_name =

| location =Directly east of Samarra, Salah ad Din Governorate, Iraq

| operator =Ministry of Water Resources

| dam_length =

| dam_height =

| dam_width_base =

| dam_type =

| spillway_count =

| spillway_type =

| spillway_capacity = Samarra Barrage: {{Convert|7000|m3/s|ft3/s|0|abbr=on}}
Tharthar Regulator: {{Convert|9000|m3/s|ft3/s|0|abbr=on}}

| construction_began =

| opening =1956

| cost =

| res_capacity_total ={{Convert|150000000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}}

| res_catchment =

| res_surface =

| plant_type = Run-of-the-river

| plant_commission =1972

| plant_turbines =3 x 28 MW Kaplan-type

| plant_capacity =84 MW

}}

The Samarra Barrage ({{langx|ar|سد سامَرّاء}}) is a multi-purpose barrage on the Tigris River adjacent (west) of Samarra and north of Baghdad, Iraq. The main purpose of the dam is to divert floodwater in the Tigris River to Lake Tharthar through the Tharthar depression along with irrigation and an 84 MW hydro-electricity station. It also serves to produce hydroelectric power and flood control – although the latter has become less critical with the construction of the Mosul Dam upstream and several other large dams in Turkey.

It was completed in 1956 by the German company Züblin. Designs were completed by the British firm Voganlei and Coode. The power station was commissioned in 1972. The Samarra Barrage portion of the structure has 17 gates capable of passing {{Convert|7000|m3/s|ft3/s|0|abbr=on}} of water to the Tigris while the Tharthar regulator can divert up to {{Convert|9000|m3/s|ft3/s|0|abbr=on}} into a canal with 36 gates. The reservoir's design capacity is {{Convert|150000000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}} but much of that is filled with sediment.{{cite web|title=Iraqi Dam Assessments|url=http://www.envirozan.info/EZ_Docs/Dams/D_Iraqi%20Dam%20Assessments.pdf|publisher=United States Army, Corps of Engineers|accessdate=27 February 2012|location=Iraq|date=6 June 2003|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924001422/http://www.envirozan.info/EZ_Docs/Dams/D_Iraqi%20Dam%20Assessments.pdf|archivedate=24 September 2015}}{{cite web|title=Electrical Power Stations in Iraq|url=http://www.auptde.org/newsite/UploadImages/News/110/322.pdf|publisher=Arab Union of Electricity|accessdate=27 February 2012}}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The intent was to use water stored from the Samarra Barrage and the Ramadi Barrage for irrigation. However, evaporation on Lakes Habbaniyah and Tharthar lead to reduced storage and high salinity, conditions unsuitable for irrigation.{{cite web|title=Managing Water For Peace: The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers|url=http://archive.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80858e/80858E04.htm|publisher=United Nations University|accessdate=27 February 2012}}