Hiram M. Chittenden Locks And Dam dam
Hiram M. Chittenden Locks And Dam
The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks and Dam, located in Seattle, Washington, serves as a vital water resource infrastructure for navigation, fish and wildlife management, and recreation. Built in 1916 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, this gravity dam stands at a height of 63 feet and has a spillway width of 192 feet. With a storage capacity of 458,000 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water levels and preventing downstream flooding in the region.
Despite being over a century old, the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks and Dam is well-maintained and continues to meet its operational safety goals. The risk assessment conducted in 2018 categorized the project's risk as moderate, primarily driven by the potential for large magnitude earthquakes in the region. To mitigate risks, USACE has implemented various measures, including regular inspections, dam repairs, and upgrades to modernize the infrastructure. Additionally, the project utilizes an earthquake shaking early warning system and collaborates closely with local emergency managers to ensure preparedness for any potential emergencies.
In conclusion, the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks and Dam serves as a critical piece of infrastructure in the Pacific Northwest, providing essential services for navigation, wildlife conservation, and flood control. With ongoing risk management measures in place, the dam continues to play a vital role in safeguarding the surrounding communities and ecosystem, ensuring the sustainable management of water resources in the region.
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 Hiram M. Chittenden Locks And Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Thornton Creek Near Seattle | 41 cfs | → |
| Mercer Creek Near Bellevue | 12 cfs | → |
| Duwamish River At Golf Course At Tukwila | 6,700 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Renton | 335 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Mouth At Orillia | 5 cfs | → |
| Spring Brook Creek At Orillia | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hiram M. Chittenden Locks And Dam.
Boat launches
- 14th Avenue Northwest Seattle
- Spu Public Boat Launch
- West Galer Street 3121, Seattle
- Beach Drive Northeast 17218, Lake Forest Park
- Lake Washington Boulevard South 3800, Seattle
- Stan Sayres Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Fay Bainbridge State Park
- Fay Bainbridge State Park Campsite
- Cascadia Marine Trail
- Manchester State Park
- Manchester State Park Campground
- Wwta Campsite (Human Powered Boats Only)
Paddle runs
- Brothers Wilderness Boundary To Olympic Nf Boundary
- Snoqualmie Falls To Plum's Landing
- Confluence With Taylor River To Confluence With North Fork Snoqualmie River
- Wagner Bridge To Confluence With Middle Fork Snoqualmie River
- Olympic Nf/Olympic Np Bounary To Brothers Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters- Includes All Tributaries To Confluence With Dosewallips River
Track Hiram M. Chittenden Locks And 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 Hiram M. Chittenden Locks And Dam
Where does the data for Hiram M. Chittenden Locks And 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 Hiram M. Chittenden Locks And Dam.