Leach Creek Stormwater Detention Dam dam
Leach Creek Stormwater Detention Dam
The Leach Creek Stormwater Detention Dam, located within the city limits of Fircrest, Washington, is a crucial structure designed by the City of Tacoma to mitigate flood risks in the region. Completed in 1960, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 13 feet, with a length of 1000 feet and a storage capacity of 183 acre-feet. Situated on Leach Creek, the dam plays a vital role in reducing the impact of heavy rainfall events and managing stormwater runoff in the area.
Managed and regulated by the Washington Department of Ecology, this dam is inspected every five years to ensure its structural integrity and effectiveness in flood risk reduction. With a fair condition assessment and a high hazard potential, the Leach Creek Stormwater Detention Dam serves as a critical infrastructure for protecting the surrounding community from potential flooding events. Its location within Congressional District 10, Washington, underscores its importance in safeguarding the environment and residents in Pierce County.
As an essential component of the local government's flood management strategy, the Leach Creek Stormwater Detention Dam exemplifies the collaborative effort between state agencies and municipalities in safeguarding water resources and addressing climate-related challenges. With its significant storage capacity and hydraulic height, this earth dam stands as a testament to the commitment to resilience and sustainability in the face of increasing climate variability and extreme weather events in the Pacific Northwest.
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 Leach Creek Stormwater Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Leach Creek Near Fircrest | 2 cfs | → |
| Chambers Creek Bl Leach Creek Near Steilacoom | 165 cfs | → |
| Flett Creek At Tacoma | 11 cfs | → |
| Clover Creek Near Tillicum | 29 cfs | → |
| Swan Creek At 80th St East Near Tacoma | 2 cfs | → |
| North Fork Clover Creek Near Parkland | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Leach Creek Stormwater Detention Dam.
Boat launches
- 10th Street Northwest 4366, Pierce County
- Morris Boulevard Pierce County
- 3rd Avenue Fi 100-176, Fox Island
- American Lake Boat Launch
- Gig Harbor Public Boat Launch
- Dockton Road Southwest 25905, Vashon
Campgrounds
- Holiday Park Military - Mcchord Afb
- Dash Point Campground
- Dash Point State Park
- Camp Murray Beach Military
- Fort Lewis Military
- Gig Harbor Rv Resort
Paddle runs
- Huckleberry Creek To Confluence With Clearwater River
- Confluence With Ipsut Creek To Western Boundary Of Mount Rainier National Park
- Brothers Wilderness Boundary To Olympic Nf Boundary
- Snoqualmie Falls To Plum's Landing
- Headwaters On The Nw Slope Of Mount Rainier At Carbon Glacier To Confluence With Ipsut Creek
- Confluence With Taylor River To Confluence With North Fork Snoqualmie River
Track Leach Creek Stormwater Detention 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 Leach Creek Stormwater Detention Dam
Where does the data for Leach Creek Stormwater Detention 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 Leach Creek Stormwater Detention Dam.