Mckay Dam dam
Mckay Dam
McKay Dam, located in Douglas, Washington, along the Tr-Columbia River, was completed in 1961 with the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. This private-owned earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet, with a hydraulic height of 15 feet and a structural height of 12 feet. It has a storage capacity of 120 acre-feet, providing vital protection to the surrounding area against potential flooding events.
Managed by the Washington Dept of Ecology, McKay Dam is classified as having a low hazard potential and is currently not rated in terms of condition assessment. Despite not having a designated Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, the dam is regularly inspected, meeting state regulatory standards for maintenance and operation. With a drainage area of 0.78 square miles and a maximum discharge rate of 39 cubic feet per second, McKay Dam plays a crucial role in safeguarding the local community from the risks associated with high water levels.
Although McKay Dam has not undergone significant modifications in recent years, its strategic location and design continue to contribute to effective flood control measures. As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, the importance of well-maintained infrastructure like McKay Dam becomes increasingly evident in protecting water resources and minimizing potential damages from flooding in 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 Mckay Dam -- 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 | → |
| Mad River At Ardenvoir | 208 cfs | → |
| Entiat River Near Ardenvoir | 931 cfs | → |
| Wenatchee River At Monitor | 4,590 cfs | → |
| Methow River Near Pateros | 3,980 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mckay Dam.
Boat launches
- Katya Lane 2943, Chelan County
- Lake Front Road Douglas County
- Lakeshore Drive Entiat
- Lake Chelan Public Boat Ramp
- U.S. 2 13253, East Wenatchee
- Chelan County
Campgrounds
- Daroga State Park
- Entiat City Park
- Beebe Bridge Park
- Lakeshore Rv Park
- Duffy / Douglas Creek
- Lake Chelan State Park
Paddle runs
- Douglas Creek
- Glacier Peak Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Wenatchee River
- Outlet Of Lake Wenatchee To Wenatchee Nf Boundary
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary To City Of Leavenworth Water Intake In Se1/4 Of Sec 28, T24n, R17e
- Point At East Section Line Of Sec 13, T28n, R15e To Lake Wenatchee
- Cottonwood Trailhead To Private Land Boundary In Ne1/4 Of Sec 29, T28n, R19e
Track Mckay 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 Mckay Dam
Where does the data for Mckay 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 Mckay Dam.