Nookachamps Hills Dam dam
Nookachamps Hills Dam
Nookachamps Hills Dam, located in Mount Vernon, Washington, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1969 for recreational purposes and flood risk reduction along Tr-Nookachamps Creek. With a structural height of 44 feet and a hydraulic height of 54 feet, the dam provides a storage capacity of 144 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 7.2 acres. Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam is currently assessed as being in poor condition, with its last inspection conducted in August 2018.
Managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, Nookachamps Hills Dam is subject to state regulations, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam is situated in Congressional District 01 and falls under the jurisdiction of Representative Suzan K. DelBene. The dam's location in Skagit County, Washington, makes it a vital infrastructure for the community, as it helps mitigate flood risks and provides recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to monitor the condition and maintenance of Nookachamps Hills Dam to ensure its continued functionality and safety. With its outdated infrastructure and poor condition assessment, there is a pressing need for risk management measures and potential enhancements to meet modern safety standards. By staying informed and advocating for proper upkeep and improvements, we can help preserve this essential dam for future generations and ensure the protection of surrounding communities from potential flooding risks.
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 Nookachamps Hills Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Skagit River Near Mount Vernon | 13,300 cfs | → |
| Samish River Near Burlington | 88 cfs | → |
| Nf Stillaguamish River Near Arlington | 1,190 cfs | → |
| Brannian Creek At S Bay Dr Nr Wickersham | 1 cfs | → |
| Anderson Creek Near Bellingham | 3 cfs | → |
| Skookum Creek Above Diversion Near Wickersham | 79 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nookachamps Hills Dam.
Boat launches
- West Big Lake Boulevard 18421, Mount Vernon
- Calhoun Road 1560, Mount Vernon
- South Lake Ketchum Road Lake Ketchum
- State Route 20 899, Skagit County
- Water Street 100, Hamilton
- Boe Road 8144, Snohomish County
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- Canyon Creek To Confluence With North Fork Stillaguamish River
- Headwaters In Sw1/4 Of Sec 7, T31n, R9e To Boulder River Wilderness Boundary
- Boulder River Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Stillaguamish River
- Bell Creek To Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Nf Boundary
- Headwaters In Ne1/4 Of Sec 14, T29n, R10e To Confluence With Canyon Creek
- Headwaters To Confluence With Bell Creek
Track Nookachamps Hills 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 Nookachamps Hills Dam
Where does the data for Nookachamps Hills 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 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 Nookachamps Hills Dam.