Vaagen Mitigation Control Structure dam
Vaagen Mitigation Control Structure
The Vaagen Mitigation Control Structure, located in Pend Oreille, Washington, serves as a crucial flood risk reduction measure along the Pend Oreille River-Offstream. Completed in 1990, this private-owned Earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 18 feet and a structural height of 4 feet, providing a normal storage capacity of 50 acre-feet to help manage water flow during flood events. With a low hazard potential, the structure has not been rated for condition assessment, but is regulated and inspected by the Washington Department of Ecology.
Despite its modest size and capacity, the Vaagen Mitigation Control Structure plays a significant role in managing flood risk in the region, with a maximum discharge capability of 65 cubic feet per second. Its location in Congressional District 05, Washington, falls under the oversight of Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers. While the structure has not been assessed for emergency action preparedness or risk management measures, its presence underscores the importance of local initiatives in safeguarding water resources and mitigating climate-related risks in the face of changing environmental 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 Vaagen Mitigation Control Structure -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pend Oreille River Below Box Canyon Near Ione | 40,700 cfs | → |
| Outlet Creek Near Metaline Falls | 19 cfs | → |
| Columbia River At International Boundary | 141,000 cfs | → |
| Priest R Outflow Nr Coolin | 605 cfs | → |
| Colville River At Kettle Falls | 153 cfs | → |
| Kettle River Near Laurier | 4,540 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vaagen Mitigation Control Structure.
Boat launches
- International Selkirk Loop, Ione
- Johnson Road 3698, Ione
- Ione Motel And Rv Park, Ione
- Linton Street, Metaline
- Sullivan Lake Road, Metaline Falls
- Boundary Access Road, Metaline Falls
Campgrounds
- Edgewater Campground
- Noisy Creek Campground
- Noisy Creek
- West Sullivan Campground
- West Sullivan
- East Sullivan Campground
Paddle runs
- Ne1/4 Of Sec 13, T40n, R46e To Nw1/4 Of Sec 5, T40n, R46e
- Segment 2 Flows For Almost 10 Miles From The Intersection With Trail 312 To Its Confluence With The Upper Priest River To Segment 2 Flows For Almost 10 Miles From The Intersection With Trail 312 To Its Confluence With The Upper Priest River
- Segment 1 Is Classified As Wild And Flows From Its Source For Almost Five Miles To The Intersection With Trail 312 To Segment 1 Is Classified As Wild And Flows From Its Source For Almost To The Intersection With Trail 312
- Upper Priest River
- Long Canyon Pass, Sec. 30, T63n, R2w To Forest Boundary, Road #417, Sec. 25, T63n, R2w
- Forest Boundary, Sec. 34, T59n, R2w To Harrison Lake, Sec. 31, T62n, R2w
Track Vaagen Mitigation Control Structure 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 Vaagen Mitigation Control Structure
Where does the data for Vaagen Mitigation Control Structure 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 Vaagen Mitigation Control Structure.