Steilacoom Lake Dam dam
Steilacoom Lake Dam
Steilacoom Lake Dam, located within the city limits of Lakewood, Washington, serves as a vital resource for both recreation and wildlife conservation. Completed in 1989, this gravity dam stands at a hydraulic height of 28 feet and a structural height of 22 feet, with a length of 120 feet. The dam creates a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 2,640 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 6,970 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 317 acres.
Managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, the dam on Chambers Creek has a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition. The dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities, ensuring its continued safety and functionality. Despite its primary purpose for recreation, the dam also serves as a fish and wildlife pond, supporting the local ecosystem and providing a tranquil environment for visitors.
With its picturesque location and significant role in water resource management, Steilacoom Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable infrastructure for both human and environmental well-being. As a key feature in Pierce County, Washington, this dam continues to be a critical asset for the community, offering opportunities for outdoor enjoyment and ecological conservation.
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 Steilacoom Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flett Creek At Tacoma | 11 cfs | → |
| Chambers Creek Bl Leach Creek Near Steilacoom | 165 cfs | → |
| Clover Creek Near Tillicum | 29 cfs | → |
| Leach Creek Near Fircrest | 2 cfs | → |
| North Fork Clover Creek Near Parkland | · | → |
| Swan Creek At 80th St East Near Tacoma | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Steilacoom Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- American Lake Boat Launch
- Morris Boulevard Pierce County
- 10th Street Northwest 4366, Pierce County
- 3rd Avenue Fi 100-176, Fox Island
- 6th Avenue Southeast Thurston County
- Gig Harbor Public Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Camp Murray Beach Military
- Holiday Park Military - Mcchord Afb
- Fort Lewis Military
- Kopachuck State Park
- Penrose Point State Park
- Dash Point Campground
Paddle runs
- Huckleberry Creek To Confluence With Clearwater River
- Confluence With Ipsut Creek To Western Boundary Of Mount Rainier National Park
- Headwaters On The Nw Slope Of Mount Rainier At Carbon Glacier To Confluence With Ipsut Creek
- Brothers Wilderness Boundary To Olympic Nf Boundary
- Headwaters In The Mystic Lake Basin On The North Side Of Mount Rainier To Northern Boundary Of Mount Rainier National Park
- Snoqualmie Falls To Plum's Landing
Track Steilacoom 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 Steilacoom Lake Dam
Where does the data for Steilacoom 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 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 Steilacoom Lake Dam.