Upper Baker dam
Upper Baker
Upper Baker is a gravity dam located in Whatcom, Washington, along the Baker River. Built in 1959, this hydroelectric facility has a structural height of 312 feet and a length of 1200 feet, providing a normal storage capacity of 274,221 acre-feet. The dam serves multiple purposes including fish and wildlife enhancement, recreation, and hydroelectric power generation.
Managed by a public utility, Upper Baker is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for regulation and inspections. With a Hazard Potential rating of High and a Risk Assessment of Very High, the dam's emergency action plan is crucial for mitigating potential risks and ensuring public safety. Despite its age, Upper Baker remains a vital water resource infrastructure in the region, supporting various ecological and economic activities along the Baker River.
The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 75 feet and Tainter radial gates for water release. Its strategic location and design make it a key component in managing water flow, storage, and discharge in the area. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the importance of structures like Upper Baker in maintaining a sustainable and resilient water supply for the community becomes increasingly evident.
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 Upper Baker -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Skagit River Near Concrete | 16,300 cfs | → |
| Bacon Creek Below Oakes Creek Near Marblemount | 432 cfs | → |
| Skagit River At Marblemount | 6,850 cfs | → |
| Cascade River At Marblemount | 1,250 cfs | → |
| Sauk River Near Sauk | 3,530 cfs | → |
| Clearwater Creek Near Welcome | 39 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Baker.
Boat launches
- Whatcom County
- National Forest Development Road Whatcom County
- National Forest Development Road 012 Whatcom County
- National Forest Development Road 11, Concrete
- National Forest Development Road 1142 Whatcom County
- Baker River Road 6323, Concrete
Campgrounds
- Anderson Point Campsites
- Horseshoe Cove
- Horseshoe Cove Campground
- Bayview Campground
- Maple Grove Campsites
- Boulder Creek Campground
Paddle runs
- Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Nf/North Cascades Np Boundary To Baker Lake
- Blum Creek To Baker Lake
- Bell Creek To Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Nf Boundary
- Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Nf/North Cascades Np Boundary To Confluence With Blum Creek
- Headwaters To Confluence With Bell Creek
- Headwaters In Ne1/4 Of Sec 23, T37n, R7e To Confluence With Soufh Fork Nooksack River
Track Upper Baker 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 Upper Baker
Where does the data for Upper Baker 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 Upper Baker.