Boundary dam
Boundary
Boundary is a hydroelectric dam located in Pend Oreille, Washington, along the banks of the Pend Oreille River. Constructed in 1967, this concrete dam stands at a height of 340 feet and serves multiple purposes including hydroelectric power generation and recreation. The dam has a storage capacity of 95,000 acre-feet, a drainage area of 25,200 square miles, and a maximum discharge of 360,000 cubic feet per second.
Owned and regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Boundary is classified as having a high hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 100 feet and various outlet gates for water release. Despite its age, the condition assessment for Boundary is currently listed as "Not Available," and the last inspection was conducted in September 2020 with an inspection frequency of one year.
With its significant hydraulic height of 330 feet and structural height of 360 feet, Boundary Dam remains a crucial infrastructure for water resource management and renewable energy production in the region. Its location in the scenic Northport area offers opportunities for recreation while providing essential services for the surrounding communities. As discussions around climate change and water resource sustainability continue, monitoring and maintaining structures like Boundary will be vital to ensure the safety and efficiency of our water systems.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Boundary -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Outlet Creek Near Metaline Falls | 19 cfs | → |
| Columbia River At International Boundary | 181,000 cfs | → |
| Pend Oreille River Below Box Canyon Near Ione | 69,100 cfs | → |
| Boundary Creek Nr Porthill Id | 265 cfs | → |
| Kootenai River At Porthill Id | 28,200 cfs | → |
| Kettle River Near Laurier | 4,380 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Boundary.
Boat launches
- Boundary Access Road, Metaline Falls
- Linton Street, Metaline
- Sullivan Lake Road, Metaline Falls
- Beaver Creek Park Road Area A (Pend Oreille/Bear Creek)
- International Selkirk Loop, Ione
- Johnson Road 3698, Ione
Campgrounds
- Boundary Dam - Seattle City Power
- Everett Slough Boat-In Campsite
- Boundary Dam
- Ledbetter Cove Boat-In Campsite
- Grandview Boat-In Campsite
- Sullivan Lake
Paddle runs
- Ne1/4 Of Sec 13, T40n, R46e To Nw1/4 Of Sec 5, T40n, R46e
- Segment 1 Is Classified As Wild And Flows From Its Source For Almost Five Miles To The Intersection With Trail 312 To Segment 1 Is Classified As Wild And Flows From Its Source For Almost To The Intersection With Trail 312
- Segment 2 Flows For Almost 10 Miles From The Intersection With Trail 312 To Its Confluence With The Upper Priest River To Segment 2 Flows For Almost 10 Miles From The Intersection With Trail 312 To Its Confluence With The Upper Priest River
- Upper Priest River
- Long Canyon Pass, Sec. 30, T63n, R2w To Forest Boundary, Road #417, Sec. 25, T63n, R2w
- Forest Boundary, Sec. 34, T59n, R2w To Harrison Lake, Sec. 31, T62n, R2w
Track Boundary in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Boundary
Where does the data for Boundary come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Boundary.