Longeway Dam dam
Longeway Dam
Longeway Dam, also known as Deer Lake Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Ferry County, Washington. Completed in 1970, this Earth-type dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, providing a surface area of 14 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 80 acre-feet. Situated on an unnamed tributary of the Sanpoil River, Longeway Dam has a hydraulic height of 11 feet and a structural height of 11 feet, with a drainage area of 0.71 square miles.
Managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, Longeway Dam has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment. While the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan in place or updated inundation maps, it is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with standards. With a maximum discharge capacity of 100 cubic feet per second, Longeway Dam remains a vital part of the local water resource infrastructure in the region.
Despite its modest size and recreational focus, Longeway Dam plays a crucial role in water management and conservation efforts in Ferry County, Washington. As climate change continues to impact water resources and ecosystems, structures like Longeway Dam are essential for maintaining a balance between human needs and environmental sustainability. By staying vigilant and proactive in its maintenance and regulation, Longeway Dam stands as a testament to responsible water resource management in the face of changing 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 Longeway Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kettle River Near Ferry | 2,600 cfs | → |
| Colville River At Kettle Falls | 153 cfs | → |
| Kettle River Near Laurier | 4,540 cfs | → |
| Okanogan River Near Tonasket | 5,040 cfs | → |
| Okanogan River At Oroville | 164 cfs | → |
| Omak Creek Near Omak | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Longeway Dam.
Boat launches
- Wayland Cove Road, Republic
- Southwest Bonaparte Lake Road, Tonasket
- Long Lake Lane 23, Tonasket
- Inchelium Kettle Falls Road 4273-4385, Kettle Falls
- Napoleon Road, Kettle Falls
- Highway 25 1834-1836, Kettle Falls
Campgrounds
- Curlew Lake State Park
- Lambert Horse Camp
- Old Stage Horse Camp
- Jungle Hill Horse Campground
- Ten Mile
- Ten Mile Campground
Paddle runs
Track Longeway 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 Longeway Dam
Where does the data for Longeway 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 Longeway Dam.