Dry Falls dam
Dry Falls
Dry Falls, also known as Banks Lake South Dam or South Coulee Dam, is a federal-owned structure located in Grant County, Washington. Completed in 1949 by the Bureau of Reclamation, this earth dam stands at a height of 63 feet and serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and navigation. Situated on the Upper Grand Coulee River, Dry Falls has a storage capacity of 1,275,000 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 27,000 acres.
The dam, with a length of 9,800 feet, is designed with a multi-arch core and is supported by rock and soil foundations. Despite its high hazard potential, the condition assessment of Dry Falls is currently not available, and the last inspection was conducted in June 2020. The Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in September 2020, ensuring that the necessary measures are in place to address any potential risks or emergencies associated with the structure.
Dry Falls plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region, offering flood protection, irrigation water, and hydroelectric power while also providing recreational opportunities for visitors. As a key component of the Bureau of Reclamation's infrastructure, this dam remains an essential asset for the community and a symbol of sustainable water resource management in Washington state.
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 Dry Falls -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wilson Creek Below Corbett Draw Near Almira | 0 cfs | → |
| Crab Creek At Irby | 9 cfs | → |
| Crab Creek Near Moses Lake | 50 cfs | → |
| Chelan River At Chelan | 268 cfs | → |
| Entiat River Near Entiat | 1,080 cfs | → |
| Methow River Near Pateros | 3,980 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dry Falls.
Boat launches
- Park Lake Trail Grant County
- Park Lake Road Northeast 33185, Grant County
- Coulee Corridor Grant County
- Lakeview Road Northeast Grant County
- Wa 17 Grant County
Track Dry Falls 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 Dry Falls
Where does the data for Dry Falls 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 Dry Falls.