Sherry Lake Dam dam
Sherry Lake Dam
Sherry Lake Dam, located in Stevens County, Washington, was completed in 1952 and serves as a vital resource for fish and wildlife conservation in the area. The primary purpose of this earth dam is to create a fish and wildlife pond, while also offering recreational opportunities for visitors. Situated along the Little Pend Oreille River, the dam has a hydraulic height of 12 feet and a structural height of 10 feet, with a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet and a drainage area of 15.3 square miles.
Managed by a private owner but regulated by the Washington Dept of Ecology, Sherry Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition assessment as of the last inspection in 1998. Despite its age, the dam continues to serve its intended purposes effectively, providing essential habitat for local wildlife and offering a serene setting for outdoor activities. With its roller-compacted concrete core and rock and soil foundations, Sherry Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management and conservation efforts in the region.
Although the dam does not have a spillway or outlet gates, it remains a crucial structure for maintaining healthy ecosystems and supporting biodiversity in the area. As climate change continues to impact water resources and habitats, the conservation of dams like Sherry Lake Dam becomes increasingly significant in preserving the delicate balance of the natural environment. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the role of structures like Sherry Lake Dam is essential in advocating for sustainable practices that prioritize the protection of our precious natural resources for future generations.
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 Sherry Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pend Oreille River Below Box Canyon Near Ione | 40,700 cfs | → |
| Outlet Creek Near Metaline Falls | 19 cfs | → |
| Colville River At Kettle Falls | 153 cfs | → |
| Columbia River At International Boundary | 141,000 cfs | → |
| Priest R Outflow Nr Coolin | 605 cfs | → |
| Pend Oreille River At Newport Wa | 38,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sherry Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Black Lake-Squaw Creek Road 1976-2198, Colville
- Ione Motel And Rv Park, Ione
- Johnson Road 3698, Ione
- International Selkirk Loop, Ione
- Linton Street, Metaline
- Sullivan Lake Road, Metaline Falls
Campgrounds
- Lake Gillette Campground
- Lake Gillette
- Gillette Campground
- Lake Thomas Campground
- Lake Thomas
- Lake Leo Campground
Paddle runs
- 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
- 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
- Forest Boundary, Sec. 34, T59n, R2w To Harrison Lake, Sec. 31, T62n, R2w
- Long Canyon Pass, Sec. 30, T63n, R2w To Forest Boundary, Road #417, Sec. 25, T63n, R2w
Track Sherry Lake 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 Sherry Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sherry Lake 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 Sherry Lake Dam.