Blair Reservoir Dam dam
Blair Reservoir Dam
Blair Reservoir Dam, also known as Elliott Lake Dam or Ben Blair Dam, is a crucial water resource structure located in Kennewick, Washington. Built in 1937 for irrigation purposes, this earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet and has a length of 480 feet. With a storage capacity of 130 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 250 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a significant role in managing water resources in the area.
Despite its importance, Blair Reservoir Dam has been assessed to be in poor condition with a high hazard potential. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the Washington Department of Ecology, which oversees its regulation, inspection, and enforcement. The last inspection in October 2021 revealed the dam's deteriorating condition, highlighting the urgent need for maintenance and risk management measures to ensure public safety and the continuous functioning of the reservoir.
As a vital structure in the Tri-Columbia River watershed, Blair Reservoir Dam faces challenges in maintaining its integrity and safety. With its poor condition and high hazard potential, there is a pressing need for investment in rehabilitation and maintenance efforts to safeguard the surrounding communities and water resources. Climate and water resource enthusiasts should monitor developments related to this dam to ensure sustainable management of this critical infrastructure in Washington state.
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 Blair Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yakima River At Kiona | 1,020 cfs | → |
| Walla Walla River Near Touchet | 167 cfs | → |
| Umatilla River Near Umatilla | 222 cfs | → |
| Umatilla R At W Reservation Bndy Nr Pendleton | 106 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek At Walla Walla | 6 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek At Five Mile Rd Br Nr Walla Walla | 634 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blair Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- East Donelson Road 222798-224804, Kennewick
- Columbia Park Trail 1106, Richland
- Road 54 605, Pasco
- South 2nd Street 577, Burbank
- Sacajawea Heritage Trail Tri-Cities
- Columbia Park Trail 1455, Richland
Track Blair Reservoir 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 Blair Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Blair Reservoir 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 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 Blair Reservoir Dam.