The Dalles Lock And Dam dam
The Dalles Lock And Dam
The Dalles Lock and Dam, also known as Lake Celilo, is a Federal-owned structure located on the Columbia River in Oregon. Completed in 1957, this gravity dam serves primarily for navigation purposes and also provides hydroelectric power, irrigation, and recreation opportunities. With a height of 116 feet and a length of 8735 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 330,000 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 2,290,000 cubic feet per second.
Despite being categorized as having a high hazard potential, the risk assessment conducted by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in 2018 deemed the risk associated with the dam to be low. USACE regularly conducts inspections, monitors dam performance, and collaborates with local emergency managers to ensure the safety and reliability of the structure. The Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for The Dalles Lock and Dam outlines procedures to be followed during emergencies, with updates based on risk assessment results and inundation maps to further enhance risk management measures.
USACE remains confident in the integrity of its dams, emphasizing their role in reducing flood risks while acknowledging the potential for flooding during extreme weather events. By prioritizing investment in aging infrastructure and increasing community awareness of flood risks, USACE aims to ensure the continued benefits and safety of dams like The Dalles Lock and Dam for 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 The Dalles Lock And Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia River At The Dalles | 146,000 cfs | → |
| Deschutes River At Moody | 3,800 cfs | → |
| Klickitat River Near Pitt | 1,100 cfs | → |
| Mosier Creek Near Mosier | 4 cfs | → |
| Hood River At Tucker Bridge | 389 cfs | → |
| White Salmon River Near Underwood | 910 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near The Dalles Lock And Dam.
Boat launches
- Spearfish Park
- Lewis And Clark Trail Highway Dallesport
- Old Ferry Road 455, Dallesport
- Avery Park
- Rowena Ferry Road 6539-6599, Mosier
- Heritage Landing
Campgrounds
- Columbia Hills (Horsethief Lake) State Park
- Avery Rec Area- Columbia River Gorge
- Celilo
- Turkey Hole - Wdfw
- Turkey Hole Campground
- Deschutes River State Rec Area
Track The Dalles Lock And 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 The Dalles Lock And Dam
Where does the data for The Dalles Lock And 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 The Dalles Lock And Dam.