Keechelus dam
Keechelus
Located in Kittitas, Washington, Keechelus is a Federal-owned dam that plays a crucial role in flood risk reduction along the Yakima River. Built in 1917, this earth dam stands at an impressive 128 feet tall and spans a length of 6550 feet, with a storage capacity of 171,000 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, but it also supports irrigation and recreation in the area.
Managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, Keechelus has undergone modifications in 2004 to strengthen its foundation and structure. With a high hazard potential, this dam is subject to regular inspections to ensure its safety and effectiveness in managing water resources. Despite its age, Keechelus continues to serve as a vital infrastructure for water management in the region, showing the resilience and innovation of early 20th-century engineering.
As a key component of the water infrastructure in Washington, Keechelus not only protects the surrounding area from flooding but also provides essential water resources for irrigation and recreation. With its historical significance and ongoing maintenance, this dam exemplifies the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of changing climate conditions. Keechelus stands as a testament to the ingenuity of water resource engineers and the enduring impact of their work on the environment and communities they serve.
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 Keechelus -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar River Below Bear Creek Near Cedar Falls | 127 cfs | → |
| Sf Snoqualmie River Ab Alice Creek Near Garcia | 359 cfs | → |
| Cedar River Near Cedar Falls | 404 cfs | → |
| Rex River Near Cedar Falls | 104 cfs | → |
| Boulder Creek Near Cedar Falls | 27 cfs | → |
| Greenwater River At Greenwater | 228 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Keechelus.
Boat launches
- Keechelus Lake Boat Launch
- Bakers Lane, Easton
- Cooper Lake Boat Launch
- Salmon La Sac Road, Ronald
- Lake Cabins Road Kittitas County
- King County
Campgrounds
- Roaring Creek Campground
- Cold Creek Campground
- Kachess
- Kachess Campground
- East Kachess Group Campground
- East Kachess Group Site
Paddle runs
- Private Land Boundary To Head Of Lake Cle Elum Reservoir
- Headwaters In Se1/4 Of Sec 29, T24n, R13e To Confluence With Cle Elum River
- Quartz Road To Confluence With Middle Fork Snoqualmie River
- Outlet Of Snoqualmie Lake To Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary To Private Land Boundary At North Section Line Of Sec 3, T23n, R14e
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary To Quartz Creek Road
Track Keechelus 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 Keechelus
Where does the data for Keechelus 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 Keechelus.