Culmback dam
Culmback
Culmback is a significant dam located in Snohomish, Washington, with a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation. Built in 1983, this rockfill dam stands at a height of 262 feet and has a storage capacity of 193,440 acre-feet, making it a crucial infrastructure for managing water resources in the region. The dam serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, recreation, and water supply, highlighting its importance in supporting the local ecosystem and community.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Culmback has a high hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. Despite its age, the dam's condition assessment is not available, emphasizing the need for regular inspections and maintenance to ensure public safety and operational efficiency. With a drainage area of 68 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 57,132 cubic feet per second, Culmback plays a vital role in water management for the Sultan River and Skykomish River, showcasing its significance in regulating water flow and supporting various environmental activities.
As a key structure in the Seattle District, Culmback's design by R.W. Beck & Associates reflects state-of-the-art engineering for sustainable water resource management. With its strategic location and critical role in hydroelectric power generation, Culmback stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience, embodying the importance of sustainable infrastructure in safeguarding our natural resources for future generations.
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 Culmback -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Sultan River Near Sultan | 30 cfs | → |
| Sultan River Below Diversion Dam Near Sultan | 149 cfs | → |
| Sultan River Below Powerplant Near Sultan | 307 cfs | → |
| Skykomish River Near Gold Bar | 2,150 cfs | → |
| Sauk River Ab Whitechuck River Near Darrington | 965 cfs | → |
| Pilchuck River Near Snohomish | 135 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Culmback.
Boat launches
- South Shore Road Snohomish County
- Stevens Pass Highway Sultan
- Middle Shore Road 2998, Lake Roesiger
- West Flowing Lake Road 6415, Snohomish
- Ben Howard Road 21101-21283, Monroe
- Panther Lake Road Snohomish County
Campgrounds
- Boardman Creek Group Campground
- Tulalip Group Campground
- Redbridge Campground
- Esswine Group Campground
- Tulalip Mill Site Group Campground
- Mountain Loop Dispersed Camping
Paddle runs
- Confluence Of Tye And Foss Rivers To Gold Bar
- Confluence With Troublesome Creek To Confluence With South Fork Skykomish River
- End Of Usfs Road 63 To Confluence With Troublesome Creek
- Usfs Road 63 To Confluence With North Fork Skykomish River
- Headwaters At Outlet Of Blanca Lake To Usfs Road 63
- Headwaters In Ne1/4 Of Sec 14, T29n, R10e To Confluence With Canyon Creek
Track Culmback 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 Culmback
Where does the data for Culmback 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 Culmback.