Tempo Lake Dam dam
Tempo Lake Dam
Tempo Lake Dam, located in Thurston, Washington, is a private earth dam primarily used for recreation purposes. Completed in 1960, this multi-arch dam stands at a height of 10 feet and has a storage capacity of 460 acre-feet, making it an essential resource for the surrounding community. Situated on Tr-Deschutes River, the dam covers a surface area of 32 acres and serves as a popular spot for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and picnicking.
Managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, Tempo Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and is not currently rated for condition assessment. Although the dam has not been inspected recently, the state agency ensures that it meets regulatory standards for safety and environmental protection. With a drainage area of 0.96 square miles and a maximum discharge of 39 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the importance of maintaining infrastructure like Tempo Lake Dam becomes increasingly evident. By ensuring the dam's integrity and functionality, stakeholders can better address the challenges posed by a changing climate and protect the ecosystem services provided by this vital water resource. With its serene setting and recreational opportunities, Tempo Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of a changing climate.
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 Tempo Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deschutes River At E St Bridge At Tumwater | 165 cfs | → |
| Deschutes River Near Rainier | 64 cfs | → |
| Skookumchuck River Bl Bldy Run Cr Nr Centralia | 102 cfs | → |
| Nisqually River At Mckenna | 841 cfs | → |
| Skookumchuck River Near Bucoda | 124 cfs | → |
| Centralia Power Canal Near Mckenna | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tempo Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Boat Launch Road Thurston County
- Henslin Drive Southeast 5725, Olympia
- 6th Avenue Southeast Thurston County
- Skookumchuck Road Southeast Thurston County
- Spanaway Mckenna Highway Pierce County
- Whitham Road Northeast 7006, Thurston County
Campgrounds
- Millersylvania State Park
- Millersylvania State Park Campground
- Tenino City Park
- American Heritage Campground
- Margaret Mckenny Campground
- Middle Waddell Campground
Paddle runs
- Confluence With Ipsut Creek To Western Boundary Of Mount Rainier National Park
- Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Boundary To Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Boundary In Sw 1/4 Of Sec 32, T11n, R5e
- Headwaters To Confluence With North Fork Skokomish River
- Headwaters- Includes All Tributaries To Confluence With North Fork Skokomish River
- Goat Rocks Wilderness Bounday To Cowlitz Falls Ferc Project Boundary In Ne1/4 Of Nw1/4 Of Sec 4, T11n, R6e
Track Tempo Lake 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 Tempo Lake Dam
Where does the data for Tempo Lake 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 Tempo Lake Dam.