Blackhorse East Dam dam
Blackhorse East Dam
Blackhorse East Dam, located in Spokane, Washington, was completed in 1960 by the US Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Engineering. This federal-owned structure serves as a vital component for the management of the Rock Creek watershed, providing a fish and wildlife pond as its primary purpose. With a height of 12 feet and a length of 155 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 212 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 20.9 acres.
Despite its low hazard potential, Blackhorse East Dam is currently assessed as being in poor condition, with the last inspection conducted in October 2013. The dam features a controlled spillway type and other controlled outlet gates, ensuring proper water flow management. Its risk assessment is classified as very high (1), emphasizing the importance of regular maintenance and monitoring to mitigate potential hazards and ensure the safety of downstream areas.
Blackhorse East Dam stands as a key structure in the conservation efforts of the Fish and Wildlife Service, highlighting the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the maintenance and operation of dams like Blackhorse East Dam are crucial in safeguarding ecosystems and supporting biodiversity in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Blackhorse East Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hangman Creek At Spokane | 52 cfs | → |
| Spokane River At Spokane | 5,570 cfs | → |
| Spokane River Below Nine Mile Dam At Spokane | 6,100 cfs | → |
| Little Spokane River Near Dartford | 408 cfs | → |
| Little Spokane River At Dartford | 163 cfs | → |
| Hangman Creek At State Line Road Near Tekoa | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blackhorse East Dam.
Boat launches
- Williams Lake Public Boat Launch
- West Fancher Road, Medical Lake
- Hog Lake Boat Ramp
- Scroggie Road 53700, Sprague
- South Gorge Trail Spokane
- North Aubrey L White Parkway Spokane
Campgrounds
- Fairchild Afb Military
- Riverside State Park
- Sprague Lake Resort
- Liberty Lake Regional Park
- Four Seasons Campground And Resort
- South Shore Hike-In/Bike-In Campsite
Paddle runs
Track Blackhorse East 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 Blackhorse East Dam
Where does the data for Blackhorse East 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 Blackhorse East Dam.