College Hill Reservoir dam
College Hill Reservoir
College Hill Reservoir, located in Hoquiam, Washington, is a historic water supply reservoir completed in 1899. Managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, this reservoir serves as a crucial offstream source from the Little Hoquiam River for the local community. With a storage capacity of 25 acre-feet and a surface area of 1.46 acres, the reservoir plays a vital role in ensuring water availability for the region.
Despite its age, College Hill Reservoir is facing challenges in terms of its condition assessment, as it has been rated as poor with a high hazard potential. The last inspection in 2018 highlighted the need for improvement and regular maintenance to ensure the safety and reliability of the structure. Additionally, the reservoir lacks certain key features such as a spillway and outlet gates, which are essential for managing water levels and ensuring proper functioning.
As a significant water resource in Grays Harbor County, College Hill Reservoir is closely monitored and regulated by state authorities. Its strategic location and historical importance make it a valuable asset for water supply purposes in the region. However, efforts must be made to address the current condition assessment and implement necessary risk management measures to safeguard the reservoir's long-term functionality and resilience in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 College Hill Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wynoochee River Above Black Creek Nr Montesano | 275 cfs | → |
| Humptulips River Below Hwy 101 Nr Humptulips | 263 cfs | → |
| Satsop River Near Satsop | 602 cfs | → |
| Wynoochee River Above Save Creek Near Aberdeen | 308 cfs | → |
| Willapa River Near Willapa | 98 cfs | → |
| Chehalis River At Porter | 830 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near College Hill Reservoir.
Boat launches
- 28th Street 702, Hoquiam
- 1st Street 901, Hoquiam
- State Route 109 1301-1399, Hoquiam
- Failor Lake Road, Hoquiam
- Albatross Street Northeast 283-299, Ocean Shores
- Katon Road 300, Montesano
Campgrounds
- Westport Recreation Park - Military
- Ocean City State Park
- Twin Harbors State Park
- Lake Sylvia State Park
- Grayland Beach State Park
- Promised Land Park - Rayonier Timber Co
Paddle runs
- Headwaters And Includes All Tributaries To Confluence With Quinault River
- Headwaters And Includes All Tributaries To Confluence With Graves Creek
- Headwaters And Includes All Tributaries Downstream From The End Of Graves Creek Road And Confluence With Graves Creek To Western Boundary Of Olympic National Park
- Headwaters To Southern Boundary Of Olympic National Park
- End Of North Fork Quinault Road To Confluence With The Main Branch Quinault River
Track College Hill Reservoir 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 College Hill Reservoir
Where does the data for College Hill Reservoir 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 College Hill Reservoir.