Welcome Lake Dam dam
Welcome Lake Dam
Welcome Lake Dam, located in Redmond, Washington, is a privately owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1959, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 24 feet and a structural height of 18 feet, with a length of 165 feet. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 130 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 1700 cubic feet per second, making it a crucial asset for managing water resources in the area.
Managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, Welcome Lake Dam is state-regulated and regularly inspected to ensure its structural integrity. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is currently assessed to be in fair condition. In case of emergencies, the dam has an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, last revised in March 2019. With its picturesque location on Colin Creek and its importance for recreation, Welcome Lake Dam serves as a vital water resource for the community while also posing potential risks that require careful monitoring and management.
Overall, Welcome Lake Dam is a significant water infrastructure in King County, Washington, serving both recreational and water management purposes. Its historical significance, coupled with its role in controlling water flow and storage, highlights the importance of regular inspections and risk assessments to ensure the safety of nearby residents and stakeholders. As a key feature in the region's water resource management, Welcome Lake Dam stands as a testament to the balance between human enjoyment and environmental stewardship in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Welcome Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Snoqualmie River Near Carnation | 1,440 cfs | → |
| Snohomish River Near Monroe | 6,190 cfs | → |
| Mercer Creek Near Bellevue | 12 cfs | → |
| Tolt River Near Carnation | 279 cfs | → |
| Thornton Creek Near Seattle | 41 cfs | → |
| Issaquah Creek Near Mouth Near Issaquah | 43 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Welcome Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Sammamish River Trail Redmond
- West Lake Sammamish Parkway Northeast Redmond
- High Bridge, Monroe
- Lake Marcel Community Park
- Tualco Loop Road 17829, Monroe
- Northeast Tolt Hill Road 30348-30762, Carnation
Paddle runs
- Snoqualmie Falls To Plum's Landing
- Confluence With Taylor River To Confluence With North Fork Snoqualmie River
- Wagner Bridge To Confluence With Middle Fork Snoqualmie River
- Confluence With Troublesome Creek To Confluence With South Fork Skykomish River
- Confluence Of Tye And Foss Rivers To Gold Bar
- Headwaters In Ne1/4 Of Sec 14, T29n, R10e To Confluence With Canyon Creek
Track Welcome 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 Welcome Lake Dam
Where does the data for Welcome 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 Welcome Lake Dam.