Fish Barrier Dam dam
Fish Barrier Dam
The Fish Barrier Dam, located in Skagit, Washington, is a concrete structure built in 1959 with a primary purpose of serving as a fish barrier. Owned by a public utility, the dam stands at a height of 19 feet and has a structural height of 36 feet. It spans 150 feet in length and has a storage capacity of 84 acre-feet. The dam, situated on the Baker River, serves as a critical infrastructure for managing water resources in the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Fish Barrier Dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. Despite the lack of state regulation and inspection, the dam is regularly inspected by the federal agency to ensure its structural integrity and operational efficiency. With a controlled spillway and two other controlled outlet gates, the dam plays a crucial role in flood control and water management for the surrounding area.
Although the condition assessment of the Fish Barrier Dam is currently marked as "Not Available," the structure remains a vital component of the local water resource infrastructure. With its strategic location and purpose as a fish barrier, the dam serves as a key asset in maintaining the ecological balance of the Baker River while also contributing to the overall climate resilience of the region.
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 Fish Barrier Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Skagit River Near Concrete | 16,300 cfs | → |
| Sauk River Near Sauk | 3,530 cfs | → |
| Skagit River At Marblemount | 6,850 cfs | → |
| Cascade River At Marblemount | 1,250 cfs | → |
| Bacon Creek Below Oakes Creek Near Marblemount | 432 cfs | → |
| Skookum Creek Above Diversion Near Wickersham | 35 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fish Barrier Dam.
Boat launches
- Baker River Road 6323, Concrete
- North Cascades Highway 49341, Concrete
- Pressentin Road 40500-40592, Concrete
- Whatcom County
- National Forest Development Road Whatcom County
- National Forest Development Road 012 Whatcom County
Campgrounds
- Grandy Lake Campground
- Howard Miller Steelhead Park
- Rasar State Park
- Howard Miller Steelhead County Park
- Anderson Point Campsites
- Horseshoe Cove
Paddle runs
- Bell Creek To Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Nf Boundary
- Headwaters To Confluence With Bell Creek
- Headwaters In Ne1/4 Of Sec 23, T37n, R7e To Confluence With Soufh Fork Nooksack River
- Headwaters In Se1/4 Of Sec 36, T37n, R9e To South Section Line Of Sec 24, T36n, R10e
- Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Nf/North Cascades Np Boundary To Baker Lake
- South Section Line Of Sec 24, T36n, R10e To Confluence With Skagit River
Track Fish Barrier 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 Fish Barrier Dam
Where does the data for Fish Barrier 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 Fish Barrier Dam.