Deschutes Dam dam
Deschutes Dam
Deschutes Dam, also known as Capitol Lake Dam, is a state-owned structure located in Olympia, Washington, along the Deschutes River. Completed in 1951, the dam primarily serves the purpose of recreation, providing a storage capacity of 3700 acre-feet for activities such as boating and fishing. The dam is classified as an earth dam with a hydraulic height of 45 feet and a structural height of 20 feet, with a low hazard potential.
Managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, Deschutes Dam has not undergone a condition assessment and is currently rated as "Not Rated." Despite its age, the dam remains in good standing with state regulators, with regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement procedures in place. However, there is limited information available on emergency action plans, risk assessments, and inundation maps for the dam, indicating a potential area for improvement in terms of safety protocols and preparedness.
In conclusion, Deschutes Dam stands as a vital infrastructure for recreational activities in Thurston County, Washington. While it serves its purpose effectively, there is room for enhancing emergency response measures and risk management strategies to ensure the safety and sustainability of this important water resource in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Deschutes Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deschutes River At E St Bridge At Tumwater | 165 cfs | → |
| Deschutes River Near Rainier | 64 cfs | → |
| Nisqually River At Mckenna | 841 cfs | → |
| Skookumchuck River Near Bucoda | 124 cfs | → |
| Skookumchuck River Bl Bldy Run Cr Nr Centralia | 102 cfs | → |
| Chehalis River Near Grand Mound | 540 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Deschutes Dam.
Boat launches
- Whitham Road Northeast 7006, Thurston County
- Henslin Drive Southeast 5725, Olympia
- 6th Avenue Southeast Thurston County
- Southeast Arkada Court 30, Shelton
- Boat Launch Road Thurston County
- East Harstine Bridge Road 51, Shelton
Campgrounds
- American Heritage Campground
- Millersylvania State Park Campground
- Millersylvania State Park
- Middle Waddell Campground
- Margaret Mckenny Campground
- Tenino City Park
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Confluence With North Fork Skokomish River
- Headwaters- Includes All Tributaries To Confluence With North Fork Skokomish River
- Headwaters- Includes All Tributaries Within Park To Olympic National Park Boundary
- Headwaters- Includes All Tributaries Within Park To Confluence With North Fork Skokomish River
- Headwaters- Includes All Tributaries And Excludes Flapjack Lakes To Confluence With North Fork Skokomish River
Track Deschutes 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 Deschutes Dam
Where does the data for Deschutes 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 Deschutes Dam.