Whatcom Lake Dam dam
Whatcom Lake Dam
Whatcom Lake Dam, located in Bellingham, Washington, serves as a crucial water supply source for the surrounding area. Built in 1937, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 19 feet, with a structural height of 14 feet and a length of 109 feet. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 25,000 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 70,000 acre-feet, providing essential water resources for the region.
Managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, Whatcom Lake Dam is regulated and inspected regularly to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment remains satisfactory as of the last inspection in April 2018. With a drainage area of 55.9 square miles and a surface area of 5000 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating potential risks in the area.
In addition to its primary purpose of water supply, Whatcom Lake Dam also offers recreational opportunities for the community. The dam's association with Whatcom Creek and its location within the scenic surroundings of Whatcom County make it a valuable asset for both water resource management and outdoor recreation enthusiasts.
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 Whatcom Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Carpenter Creek At N Shore Drive Nr Bellingham | 1 cfs | → |
| Olsen Creek Near Bellingham | 2 cfs | → |
| Anderson Creek At Smith Road Near Goshen | 4 cfs | → |
| Nooksack River At North Cedarville | 3,330 cfs | → |
| Brannian Creek At S Bay Dr Nr Wickersham | 2 cfs | → |
| Anderson Creek Near Bellingham | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Whatcom Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Galbriath Loop Bellingham
- South Bay Drive 3186-3234, Sedro-Woolley
- East Wiser Lake Road 145, Lynden
- Chuckanut Drive 3098, Skagit County
- Beach Avenue Whatcom County
- Guide Meridian Road Whatcom County
Campgrounds
- Cedar Lake Camp
- Pine Lake Camp
- Larrabee State Park
- Lizard Lake Camp
- Northwest Trail Site
- Cocoa Crossroads
Paddle runs
- Fish Hatchery To Confluence With South Fork Nooksack River
- Nooksack Falls Power Plant To Fish Hatchery Near Kendall, Wa
- Headwaters In Ne1/4 Of Sec 23, T37n, R7e To Confluence With Soufh Fork Nooksack River
- Headwaters To Confluence With Bell Creek
- Douglas Fir Campground To Mt. Baker Highway
- Bell Creek To Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Nf Boundary
Track Whatcom 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 Whatcom Lake Dam
Where does the data for Whatcom 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 Whatcom Lake Dam.