Madsen Creek West Basin Dam dam
Madsen Creek West Basin Dam
Madsen Creek West Basin Dam, located in King County, Washington, is a crucial piece of infrastructure owned by the local government to reduce flood risks in the area. Designed by King County and completed in 2008, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 13 feet and spans 800 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 27 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.11 square miles, this dam plays a vital role in managing water resources in the region.
The dam has a high hazard potential but is currently assessed to be in satisfactory condition, with the last inspection conducted in August 2018. The emergency action plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in December 2019, ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to address any potential risks or emergencies. The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with a normal storage capacity of 16.1 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 50 cubic feet per second, highlighting its importance in protecting the surrounding communities from flooding events.
Despite its critical role in water resource management, Madsen Creek West Basin Dam does not fall under the jurisdiction of federal agencies and is regulated by the Washington Department of Ecology. With its strategic location and efficient design, this dam serves as a vital asset in safeguarding the local area against flood risks and underscores the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climatic 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 Madsen Creek West Basin Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar River At Renton | 339 cfs | → |
| Spring Brook Creek At Orillia | 6 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Mouth At Orillia | 6 cfs | → |
| Duwamish River At Golf Course At Tukwila | 6,700 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek At Earthworks Park At Kent | 1 cfs | → |
| Issaquah Creek Near Hobart | 27 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Madsen Creek West Basin Dam.
Boat launches
- Shady Lake Boat Ramp
- 148th Avenue Southeast Kent
- Mercer Island Boat Launch
- Lake Fenwick Trail Kent
- I 90 Trail Bellevue
- Adams Street Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Point Robinson Campground
- Kanaskat-Palmer State Park Campground
- Kanaskat Palmer Recreation Area
- Dash Point State Park
- Dash Point Campground
- Tolt-Macdonald Park Campground
Paddle runs
- Snoqualmie Falls To Plum's Landing
- Wagner Bridge To Confluence With Middle Fork Snoqualmie River
- Confluence With Taylor River To Confluence With North Fork Snoqualmie River
- Huckleberry Creek To Confluence With Clearwater River
- Quartz Road To Confluence With Middle Fork Snoqualmie River
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary To Quartz Creek Road
Track Madsen Creek West Basin 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 Madsen Creek West Basin Dam
Where does the data for Madsen Creek West Basin 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 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 Madsen Creek West Basin Dam.