Ayer Reservoir Dam dam
Ayer Reservoir Dam
Ayer Reservoir Dam, located in San Juan, Washington, was completed in 1964 and serves as a private recreational spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts. The dam is primarily made of earth and stone, with a hydraulic height of 32 feet and a structural height of 30 feet. It holds a maximum storage capacity of 135 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 10.3 acres, drawing water from the Tr-East Sound river or stream.
Managed by the Washington Dept of Ecology, Ayer Reservoir Dam has a low hazard potential and is not currently rated for condition assessment. While the dam has not undergone recent inspections, it is state-regulated, permitted, and inspected, ensuring safety and compliance with regulatory standards. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures are currently unreported, leaving room for improvement in disaster preparedness and risk mitigation.
Despite its modest size and capacity, Ayer Reservoir Dam offers a unique recreational experience for visitors in the area. With its scenic location and tranquil waters, the dam provides a peaceful retreat for nature enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers alike. As interest in water resources and climate conservation grows, Ayer Reservoir Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable management and preservation of our natural resources.
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 Ayer Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nooksack River At Ferndale | 2,610 cfs | → |
| Olsen Creek Near Bellingham | 2 cfs | → |
| Carpenter Creek At N Shore Drive Nr Bellingham | 1 cfs | → |
| Samish River Near Burlington | 99 cfs | → |
| Brannian Creek At S Bay Dr Nr Wickersham | 1 cfs | → |
| Fishtrap Creek At Front Street At Lynden | 24 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ayer Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Dock Road 98, San Juan County
- Cayou Quay Marina
- Odlin Park Road 177-199, Lopez Island
- Hummel Lake Road 674, Lopez Island
- Sylvan Cove Road San Juan County
- Davis Beach Road San Juan County
Campgrounds
- Moran State Park Campground
- Cascadia Marine Trail Campsite
- Spencer Spit State Park Campground
- Snoring Bay Camp
- Fox Cove Camp
- Shallow Bay South
Paddle runs
- Fish Hatchery To Confluence With South Fork Nooksack River
- Nooksack Falls Power Plant To Fish Hatchery Near Kendall, Wa
- Sleepy Hollow Creek To Olympic Nf Boundary
- Headwaters In Ne1/4 Of Sec 23, T37n, R7e To Confluence With Soufh Fork Nooksack River
- Headwaters To Confluence With Bell Creek
- Canyon Creek To Confluence With North Fork Stillaguamish River
Track Ayer Reservoir 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 Ayer Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Ayer Reservoir 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 Ayer Reservoir Dam.