Centralia Coal Mine Dam No 8 dam
Centralia Coal Mine Dam No 8
Centralia Coal Mine Dam No 8, also known as Widco Dam No. 8, is a crucial structure located in Centralia, Washington, along the Tr-South Hanaford Creek. This Earth-type dam, completed in 1972, serves primarily for tailings purposes and stands at a hydraulic height of 12 feet. With a storage capacity of 84 acre-feet, this dam plays a significant role in managing water resources in the area.
Managed by the Washington Dept of Ecology, Centralia Coal Mine Dam No 8 is regulated and inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, its condition is currently not rated. Emergency action plans are in place, with the latest revision dating back to March 2022, to address any potential risks and ensure the safety of the surrounding community in case of emergencies.
With its strategic location and vital function in water management, Centralia Coal Mine Dam No 8 stands as a key asset in the region's infrastructure. Climate and water resource enthusiasts alike can appreciate the importance of this dam in safeguarding the environment and supporting sustainable development in Centralia, Washington.
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 Centralia Coal Mine Dam No 8 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nf Newaukum River Above Bear Creek Near Forest | 73 cfs | → |
| Skookumchuck River Bl Bldy Run Cr Nr Centralia | 118 cfs | → |
| Skookumchuck River Near Bucoda | 150 cfs | → |
| Newaukum River Near Chehalis | 233 cfs | → |
| South Fork Newaukum River Near Onalaska | 182 cfs | → |
| Skookumchuck River Near Vail | 98 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Centralia Coal Mine Dam No 8.
Boat launches
- Skookumchuck Road Southeast Thurston County
- Boat Launch Road Thurston County
- Willapa Hills Trail Lewis County
- Buckley Road 298, Toledo
- Mayfield Lake Park Campground Boat Launch
- Front Street Toledo
Campgrounds
- Stan Hedwall Park
- Tenino City Park
- Millersylvania State Park
- Millersylvania State Park Campground
- Mayfield Lake - Tacoma Power
- Ike Kinswa State Park
Paddle runs
- Headwaters In Sw1/4 Sec 28, T9n, R5e To Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Boundary
- Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Boundary To Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Boundary In Sw 1/4 Of Sec 32, T11n, R5e
- Goat Rocks Wilderness Bounday To Cowlitz Falls Ferc Project Boundary In Ne1/4 Of Nw1/4 Of Sec 4, T11n, R6e
- Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Boundary To To Point River Reenters Mshnvm In Se 1/4 Of Sec 11, T10n, R5e
- Headwaters In Se1/4 Of Sec 31, T10n, R6e To Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Boundary
- Nw1/4 Of Sec 21, T11n, R8e To Confluence With Cispus River
Track Centralia Coal Mine Dam No 8 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 Centralia Coal Mine Dam No 8
Where does the data for Centralia Coal Mine Dam No 8 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 Significant 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 Centralia Coal Mine Dam No 8.