Silver Lake Dam dam
Silver Lake Dam
Silver Lake Dam, located in Castle Rock, Washington, serves as a vital structure for flood risk reduction and recreational purposes along Outlet Creek. Constructed in 1971, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 15 feet and a structural height of 6 feet, with a normal storage capacity of 7500 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 11737 acre-feet. The dam's low hazard potential and not rated condition assessment highlight its importance in water resource management within the region.
Managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, the dam is state-regulated and inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and operational efficiency. Despite not having a designated spillway type, the dam's design and core type of stone foundations on rock and soil provide stability and reliability in flood control measures. With a surface area of 2300 acres and a drainage area of 39.3 square miles, Silver Lake Dam plays a crucial role in maintaining water levels and mitigating flood risks for the surrounding community.
In addition to its functional aspects, Silver Lake Dam offers recreational opportunities for visitors, making it a multi-purpose structure that harmonizes flood control with leisure activities. While the dam's emergency action plan and risk assessment details are currently not available, its presence underscores the importance of sustainable water resource management and climate resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions. As a focal point in the picturesque landscape of Cowlitz County, Silver Lake Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of human infrastructure and natural ecosystems in safeguarding water resources for future generations.
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 Silver Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Toutle River At Toutle | 868 cfs | → |
| Toutle River At Tower Road Near Silver Lake | 1,360 cfs | → |
| Cowlitz River At Castle Rock | 6,530 cfs | → |
| Nf Toutle River Below Srs Near Kid Valley | 789 cfs | → |
| Cowlitz River Below Mayfield Dam | 4,620 cfs | → |
| South Fork Chehalis River Near Wildwood | 56 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Silver Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Kerr Road 500, Silver Lake
- Interstate 5, Toledo
- Front Street Toledo
- Buckley Road 298, Toledo
- Ocean Beach Highway 6105, Longview
- Mayfield Lake Park Campground Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Seaquest State Park
- Yurt Village
- Seaquest State Park Campground
- Kid Valley Campground
- Mayfield Lake - Tacoma Power
- Hudson - Parcher County Park
Paddle runs
- Headwaters In Sw1/4 Sec 28, T9n, R5e To Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Boundary
- Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Boundary To Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Boundary In Sw 1/4 Of Sec 32, T11n, R5e
- Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Boundary To To Point River Reenters Mshnvm In Se 1/4 Of Sec 11, T10n, R5e
- Headwaters In Se1/4 Of Sec 31, T10n, R6e To Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Boundary
- (Upper Muddy Segment) Headwaters In Se1/4 Of Sec 10, T8n, R5e To Conflence With Smith Creek
- (Smith Creek Segment) Headwaters In Se 1/4 Of Sec 3, T8n, R5e To Confluence With Muddy River
Track Silver 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 Silver Lake Dam
Where does the data for Silver 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 Silver Lake Dam.