Frozen Lake Dam dam
Frozen Lake Dam
Frozen Lake Dam, located in Tacoma, Washington, is a Federal-owned structure managed by the National Park Service for water supply purposes. Completed in 1930, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 14 feet and has a storage capacity of 76 acre-feet. While the dam's primary purpose is water supply, it also serves as a critical component in the management of the TR-WHITE RIVER.
Despite its age, Frozen Lake Dam is considered to have a high hazard potential due to its location and function. While information on the dam's condition assessment is not available, regular inspections by the National Park Service ensure that any necessary maintenance and repairs are conducted as needed. The dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) was last revised in April 2016, indicating a commitment to ensuring the safety and integrity of the structure in the event of an emergency.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Frozen Lake Dam to be a fascinating example of early 20th-century engineering for water management. Its role in providing water supply while also posing potential risks highlights the delicate balance between resource utilization and safety in dams across the country. As efforts continue to monitor and maintain the dam, its significance in the region's water infrastructure remains essential for both environmental conservation and human use.
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 Frozen Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Greenwater River At Greenwater | 219 cfs | → |
| Puyallup River Near Electron | 560 cfs | → |
| White River Below Clearwater River Nr Buckley | 2,550 cfs | → |
| Carbon River Near Fairfax | 469 cfs | → |
| Cowlitz River At Packwood | 1,350 cfs | → |
| Nisqually River Near National | 517 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Frozen Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Orville Road East 29517, Orting
- State Game Road 11999, Pierce County
- Orville Road East 39200-41144, Eatonville
- Allan Yorke Park
Campgrounds
- Sunrise Camp
- Forest Lake Camp
- White River - Mount Rainier National Park
- Granite Creek Camp
- Dick's Lake Camp
- Fire Creek Camp
Paddle runs
- Headwaters In The Mystic Lake Basin On The North Side Of Mount Rainier To Northern Boundary Of Mount Rainier National Park
- Headwaters On The Southeast Flank Of Mount Rainier At An Elevation Of 5500 Ft To Confluence With Chinook Creek
- Headwaters On The Nw Slope Of Mount Rainier At Carbon Glacier To Confluence With Ipsut Creek
- Headwaters At The Terminus Of The Ingraham Glacier To Ends 1/4 Mile North Of Box Canyon
- Confluence With Ipsut Creek To Western Boundary Of Mount Rainier National Park
- Confluence With Chinook Creek To Southern Boundary Of Mount Rainier National Park
Track Frozen 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 Frozen Lake Dam
Where does the data for Frozen 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 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 Frozen Lake Dam.