Locke Dam dam
Locke Dam
Locke Dam, located in Locke, Washington, along the Tr-Pend Oreille River, was completed in 1973 with the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. This private dam, regulated by the Washington Dept of Ecology, has a hydraulic height of 30 feet and a structural height of 21 feet. The dam has a hazard potential rated as high, with a fair condition assessment as of June 2018.
With a storage capacity of 1860 acre-feet and a drainage area of 1.16 square miles, Locke Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. The dam's normal storage capacity is 1000 acre-feet, providing flood protection to the surrounding area. The dam's last inspection was conducted in October 2017, with a scheduled inspection frequency of 5 years to ensure its continued safety and effectiveness in mitigating flood risks.
Locke Dam serves as a vital infrastructure for flood risk management in Pend Oreille County, Washington, under the ownership of a private entity. As climate change continues to pose challenges to water resources management, the proper maintenance and operation of dams like Locke Dam are essential for safeguarding communities and ecosystems from the impacts of extreme weather events. Further monitoring and risk management measures will be crucial in ensuring the continued effectiveness of Locke Dam in protecting the region from potential flood hazards.
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 Locke Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Priest R Outflow Nr Coolin | 213 cfs | → |
| Pend Oreille River At Newport Wa | 19,400 cfs | → |
| Priest River Nr Priest River Id | 341 cfs | → |
| Pend Oreille River Below Box Canyon Near Ione | 21,400 cfs | → |
| Little Spokane River At Elk | 48 cfs | → |
| Outlet Creek Near Metaline Falls | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Locke Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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More reservoirs
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About Locke Dam
Where does the data for Locke 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 below 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.
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.