Chelan dam
Chelan
Chelan, also known as Lake Chelan, is a gravity dam located in Chelan Falls, Washington. Built in 1927 by the Washington Water Power Company, this hydroelectric structure serves the primary purposes of flood risk reduction and generating hydroelectric power. With a height of 33 feet and a structural height of 66 feet, Chelan stands as a significant water resource in the region.
The dam has a storage capacity of 676,100 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 32,980 acres. It is situated on the Chelan River, with a drainage area of 952 square miles. In case of emergencies, the dam is equipped with a controlled spillway with a width of 160 feet. The risk assessment for Chelan is rated as very high, emphasizing the importance of proper management and maintenance of this critical infrastructure.
Despite its age, Chelan continues to play a vital role in water resource management and electricity generation in the region. The dam is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and has a significant hazard potential. With its historical significance and ongoing importance in water resource management, Chelan stands as a key feature in the landscape of Chelan County, Washington.
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 Chelan -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chelan River At Chelan | 268 cfs | → |
| Entiat River Near Entiat | 1,080 cfs | → |
| Methow River Near Pateros | 3,980 cfs | → |
| Mad River At Ardenvoir | 208 cfs | → |
| Entiat River Near Ardenvoir | 931 cfs | → |
| Wenatchee River At Monitor | 4,590 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chelan.
Boat launches
- Lake Chelan Public Boat Ramp
- Katya Lane 2943, Chelan County
- Lake Front Road Douglas County
- Lakeshore Drive Entiat
- Monse Bridge Road, Brewster
- U.S. 2 13253, East Wenatchee
Campgrounds
- Lakeshore Rv Park
- Beebe Bridge Park
- Lake Chelan State Park
- Antilon Lake Campground
- Antilon Lake
- Daroga State Park
Paddle runs
- Douglas Creek
- Glacier Peak Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Wenatchee River
- Cottonwood Trailhead To Private Land Boundary In Ne1/4 Of Sec 29, T28n, R19e
- Point At East Section Line Of Sec 13, T28n, R15e To Lake Wenatchee
- Outlet Of Lake Wenatchee To Wenatchee Nf Boundary
- Glacier Peak Wilderness To Cottonwood Trailhead In Sw1/4 Of Sec 7, T28n,R19e
More reservoirs
Track Chelan 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 Chelan
Where does the data for Chelan 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 Significant 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 Chelan.