Devils Hole Dam dam
Devils Hole Dam
Devils Hole Dam, located in Kitsap, Washington, is a Federal-owned structure managed by the US Navy for recreational purposes. Constructed in 1959 by the Public Works Department, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 21.7 feet and spans 500 feet in length. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, highlighting the need for maintenance and upkeep to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
The dam's primary purpose is to provide recreation opportunities, with a normal storage capacity of 86.6 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 441 cubic feet per second. While the dam has a controlled spillway with a width of 9 feet, it lacks outlet gates and associated structures. Although the risk assessment categorizes the dam's risk level as moderate, the US Navy is responsible for conducting inspections and enforcing regulations to mitigate potential hazards and ensure public safety.
Devils Hole Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and providing recreational amenities in the region. As a state-regulated structure under the jurisdiction of the Washington Department of Ecology, it undergoes regular inspections to assess its condition and operational readiness. With its unique setting along Devils Creek, this dam serves as a valuable asset for the community and underscores the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of climate challenges.
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 Devils Hole Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Quilcene River Below Diversion Nr Quilcene | 58 cfs | → |
| Duckabush River Near Brinnon | 186 cfs | → |
| Thornton Creek Near Seattle | 41 cfs | → |
| Huge Creek Near Wauna | 7 cfs | → |
| Dungeness River Near Sequim | 242 cfs | → |
| Mercer Creek Near Bellevue | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Devils Hole Dam.
Boat launches
- Norum Road Northeast 16011, Poulsbo
- Point Whitney Road 1099, Brinnon
- Miami Beach Road Northwest 9810, Seabeck
- Ogle Road Northeast 9790, Bremerton
- Chico Beach Drive Northwest 5398, Kitsap County
- Katherine Street Northwest 4800-4856, Bremerton
Campgrounds
- Camp Parsons
- Kitsap Memorial State Park
- Seal Rock Campground
- Seal Rock
- Wwta Campsite (Human Powered Boats Only)
- Scenic Beach State Park Campground
Paddle runs
- Brothers Wilderness Boundary To Olympic Nf Boundary
- Olympic Nf/Olympic Np Bounary To Brothers Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters- Includes All Tributaries To Confluence With Dosewallips River
- Headwaters- Includes All Tributaries (Upstream From Station Creek) To Confluence With Dosewallips River
Track Devils Hole 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 Devils Hole Dam
Where does the data for Devils Hole 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 Devils Hole Dam.