Lummi Island Estates Dam dam
Lummi Island Estates Dam
The Lummi Island Estates Dam, located in Whatcom County, Washington, is a private structure designed for recreational purposes and water supply. Completed in 1963, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 28 feet, with a structural height of 26 feet. It has a normal storage capacity of 49 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 67 acre-feet, serving the surrounding area in the Tr-Hale Passage watershed.
Managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, the Lummi Island Estates Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state agencies to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2015 reported it as satisfactory. With a drainage area of 0.36 square miles and a surface area of 4.3 acres, this dam plays a crucial role in water management and recreational activities in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Lummi Island Estates Dam offers a fascinating example of a privately owned structure with significant implications for the surrounding ecosystem. Its presence in the Tr-Hale Passage watershed highlights the intersection of human infrastructure and environmental stewardship, serving as a critical piece of the region's water supply and recreational landscape. With ongoing state oversight and regular inspections, this dam stands as a testament to the careful balance between human needs and natural resource management in the Pacific Northwest.
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 Lummi Island Estates Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nooksack River At Ferndale | 2,290 cfs | → |
| Olsen Creek Near Bellingham | 1 cfs | → |
| Carpenter Creek At N Shore Drive Nr Bellingham | 1 cfs | → |
| Brannian Creek At S Bay Dr Nr Wickersham | 1 cfs | → |
| Samish River Near Burlington | 88 cfs | → |
| Anderson Creek Near Bellingham | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lummi Island Estates Dam.
Boat launches
- Beach Avenue Whatcom County
- Cypress Head Trail Skagit County
- Galbriath Loop Bellingham
- T Avenue 209, Anacortes
- Chuckanut Drive 3098, Skagit County
- Washington Park Loop, Anacortes
Campgrounds
- Larrabee State Park
- Cascade Marine Trail, Campsite For Human Powered Boats
- Cedar Lake Camp
- Pine Lake Camp
- Cascadia Marine Trail Campsite
- Moran State Park Campground
Paddle runs
- Fish Hatchery To Confluence With South Fork Nooksack River
- Nooksack Falls Power Plant To Fish Hatchery Near Kendall, Wa
- Headwaters In Ne1/4 Of Sec 23, T37n, R7e To Confluence With Soufh Fork Nooksack River
- Headwaters To Confluence With Bell Creek
- Bell Creek To Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Nf Boundary
- Douglas Fir Campground To Mt. Baker Highway
Track Lummi Island Estates 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 Lummi Island Estates Dam
Where does the data for Lummi Island Estates 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 Lummi Island Estates Dam.