Louise Lake Dam dam
Louise Lake Dam
Louise Lake Dam, located in Whatcom, Washington, was completed in 1972 and serves primarily for recreational purposes. The earth dam, with a hydraulic height of 18 feet and a structural height of 14 feet, is privately owned and regulated by the Washington Department of Ecology. It has a storage capacity of 1175 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 1070 acre-feet and a surface area of 29 acres.
The dam poses a high hazard potential but has been assessed as satisfactory in condition. Regular inspections are conducted, with the most recent one taking place in September 2017. The emergency action plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in October 2009. Despite its age, the dam continues to meet regulatory guidelines and is considered to be in good operational shape. With its location in a picturesque setting and its importance for irrigation and recreation, Louise Lake Dam remains a vital part of the water resource infrastructure in Washington.
In case of any emergencies, the dam has designated emergency contacts, although the specifics of the EAP and risk management measures are not detailed in the available data. The dam is not owned or funded by any federal agency but falls under state jurisdiction and regulation. Overall, Louise Lake Dam represents a significant piece of water resource infrastructure in Washington, providing both recreational opportunities and essential water management functions for the surrounding area.
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 Louise Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Olsen Creek Near Bellingham | 1 cfs | → |
| Carpenter Creek At N Shore Drive Nr Bellingham | 1 cfs | → |
| Brannian Creek At S Bay Dr Nr Wickersham | 1 cfs | → |
| Anderson Creek Near Bellingham | 3 cfs | → |
| Sf Nooksack River At Saxon Bridge | 647 cfs | → |
| Anderson Creek At Smith Road Near Goshen | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Louise Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- South Bay Drive 3186-3234, Sedro-Woolley
- Galbriath Loop Bellingham
- Chuckanut Drive 3098, Skagit County
- Beach Avenue Whatcom County
- East Wiser Lake Road 145, Lynden
- Guide Meridian Road Whatcom County
Campgrounds
- Northwest Trail Site
- Pine Lake Camp
- Cedar Lake Camp
- Lizard Lake Camp
- Larrabee State Park
- 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
- Bell Creek To Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Nf Boundary
- Douglas Fir Campground To Mt. Baker Highway
Track Louise 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 Louise Lake Dam
Where does the data for Louise 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 Louise Lake Dam.