Wapato Lake Dam dam
Wapato Lake Dam
Located in Manson, Washington, the Wapato Lake Dam is a public utility structure that regulates the flow of the Tr-Lake Chelan river. Built in 1912, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 40 feet and serves primarily for recreation purposes, with a normal storage capacity of 2000 acre-feet. The dam's hazard potential is rated as high, although its condition is currently assessed as fair.
With a surface area of 220 acres and a drainage area of 15.3 square miles, Wapato Lake Dam plays a vital role in managing water resources in the region. The dam has state jurisdiction, with regulatory oversight from the Washington Department of Ecology. Despite its age, the dam undergoes regular inspections every 5 years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. In case of emergencies, an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is in place, with the last revision made in November 2019 to meet safety guidelines. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Wapato Lake Dam stands as both a historical landmark and a crucial infrastructure piece for sustainable water management in Chelan, 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 Wapato Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chelan River At Chelan | 268 cfs | → |
| Entiat River Near Ardenvoir | 931 cfs | → |
| Methow River Near Pateros | 3,980 cfs | → |
| Mad River At Ardenvoir | 208 cfs | → |
| Entiat River Near Entiat | 1,080 cfs | → |
| Chiwawa River Near Plain | 1,050 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wapato Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Chelan Public Boat Ramp
- Lake Front Road Douglas County
- Katya Lane 2943, Chelan County
- Lakeshore Drive Entiat
- Monse Bridge Road, Brewster
- U.S. 2 13253, East Wenatchee
Campgrounds
- Mitchell Creek Campground
- Mitchell Creek
- Antilon Lake
- Antilon Lake Campground
- Lake Chelan State Park
- Snowberry Bowl Campground
Paddle runs
- Cottonwood Trailhead To Private Land Boundary In Ne1/4 Of Sec 29, T28n, R19e
- Glacier Peak Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Wenatchee River
- Glacier Peak Wilderness To Cottonwood Trailhead In Sw1/4 Of Sec 7, T28n,R19e
- Point At East Section Line Of Sec 13, T28n, R15e To Lake Wenatchee
- Private Land Boundary To Okanogan Nf Boundary
- Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness Boundary To Private Land Boundary Near Lime Creek In Se1/4 Of Sec 18, T33n, R20e
More reservoirs
Track Wapato Lake 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 Wapato Lake Dam
Where does the data for Wapato Lake 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 Wapato Lake Dam.