Ely Pump Storage Dam dam
Ely Pump Storage Dam
Located in Benton, Washington, the Ely Pump Storage Dam is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1965 for the primary purpose of irrigation. Situated on the Columbia River-Offstream, this dam has a hydraulic height of 15 feet and a structural height of 5 feet, with a storage capacity of 70 acre-feet. The dam covers a surface area of 4.2 acres and has a drainage area of 0.01 square miles, making it a significant asset for water management in the region.
Managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, the Ely Pump Storage Dam is regulated and inspected by the state authorities, ensuring its safety and compliance with relevant guidelines. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated", the dam plays a crucial role in supporting irrigation activities in the area. While there are no associated structures or outlet gates, the dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures remain unspecified, indicating a potential area for improvement in emergency preparedness.
Overall, the Ely Pump Storage Dam serves as a vital infrastructure for water resource management in Washington, providing irrigation support and water storage capabilities. With its moderate storage capacity and low hazard potential, the dam remains a key asset in the region's water infrastructure network. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the importance of maintaining and enhancing such dams for sustainable water management becomes increasingly apparent.
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 Ely Pump Storage Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Umatilla River Near Umatilla | 214 cfs | → |
| Walla Walla River Near Touchet | 173 cfs | → |
| Umatilla R At W Reservation Bndy Nr Pendleton | 108 cfs | → |
| Yakima River At Kiona | 1,210 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek At Walla Walla | 7 cfs | → |
| Meacham Creek At Gibbon | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ely Pump Storage Dam.
Track Ely Pump Storage 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 Ely Pump Storage Dam
Where does the data for Ely Pump Storage 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 Low 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 Ely Pump Storage Dam.