Lower Rimrock Dam dam
Lower Rimrock Dam
Lower Rimrock Dam, located in Palisades, Washington, is a privately-owned structure regulated by the Washington Department of Ecology. Built in 1972, this rockfill dam on Mccarteney Creek serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 550 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy. With a hydraulic height of 67 feet and a structural height of 55 feet, the dam provides a low hazard potential, making it a safe destination for outdoor activities.
Managed by the Seattle District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Lower Rimrock Dam boasts a storage capacity of 550 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 22,400 cubic feet per second. The dam's design, with a stone core and rock foundation, reflects a commitment to both structural integrity and environmental sustainability. Despite not having a current condition assessment, the dam's low hazard potential and state-regulated status ensure safe operation for visitors and nearby residents alike.
Congressional District 04's Representative Dan Newhouse (R) oversees the area where Lower Rimrock Dam is located, ensuring that proper inspections, permitting, and enforcement measures are in place to maintain the dam's safety and functionality. With its picturesque surroundings and recreational offerings, Lower Rimrock Dam stands as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of water resources and climate conservation in the state of Washington.
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 Lower Rimrock Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chelan River At Chelan | 268 cfs | → |
| Entiat River Near Entiat | 1,080 cfs | → |
| Wenatchee River At Monitor | 4,590 cfs | → |
| Crab Creek Near Moses Lake | 50 cfs | → |
| Mad River At Ardenvoir | 208 cfs | → |
| Entiat River Near Ardenvoir | 931 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Rimrock Dam.
Boat launches
- Wa 17 Grant County
- Juniper Street North Soap Lake
- Lakeview Road Northeast Grant County
- Park Lake Road Northeast 33185, Grant County
Campgrounds
- Douglas Creek Dispersed - Yakima River Canyon Dispersed
- North Douglas Creek
- Duffy / Douglas Creek
- Alkali Lake - Wdfw
- Jameson Lake
- Blue Lake - Wdfw
Paddle runs
- Douglas Creek
- Wilson Creek
- Outlet Of Lake Wenatchee To Wenatchee Nf Boundary
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary To City Of Leavenworth Water Intake In Se1/4 Of Sec 28, T24n, R17e
- Glacier Peak Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Wenatchee River
- Point At East Section Line Of Sec 13, T28n, R15e To Lake Wenatchee
Track Lower Rimrock Dam 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 Lower Rimrock Dam
Where does the data for Lower Rimrock Dam 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 Low 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 Lower Rimrock Dam.