Rainbow Springs Dam dam
Rainbow Springs Dam
Rainbow Springs Dam, located in Snohomish, Washington, stands as a testament to human ingenuity and the harmonious intersection of water resource management and recreational activities. Built in 1969, this private-owned earth dam on the Tr-South Fork Stillaguamish River boasts a structural height of 12 feet and a hydraulic height of 14 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 63 acre-feet for the surrounding area. Despite its impressive stature, the dam's condition assessment reveals a poor rating, with a high hazard potential, highlighting the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
The primary purpose of Rainbow Springs Dam is recreation, offering visitors a tranquil retreat in the midst of nature's beauty. With a normal storage capacity of 43 acre-feet and a surface area of 43 acres, the dam provides a serene setting for fishing, boating, and other water-based activities. However, the dam's last inspection in September 2018 raised concerns about its structural integrity, underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring and potential rehabilitation efforts to address any safety risks associated with its aging infrastructure.
Managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, Rainbow Springs Dam falls under state jurisdiction and regulation, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes in place to ensure compliance with safety standards and environmental protection measures. As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure resilience, the importance of maintaining and updating dams like Rainbow Springs becomes increasingly vital in safeguarding communities and ecosystems against potential hazards and ensuring sustainable water management 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 Rainbow Springs Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nf Stillaguamish River Near Arlington | 2,840 cfs | → |
| Pilchuck River Near Snohomish | 973 cfs | → |
| Mission Creek Near Tulalip | 6 cfs | → |
| East Branch Tulalip Creek Nr Mouth Nr Tulalip | 3 cfs | → |
| Tulalip Creek Above East Branch Near Tulalip | 9 cfs | → |
| Tulalip Creek Near Tulalip | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rainbow Springs Dam.
Boat launches
- Snohomish County
- 99th Avenue Northeast 5711, Lake Stevens
- 123rd Drive Northeast 1709, Lake Stevens
- 57th Street Northeast Marysville
- Middle Shore Road 2998, Lake Roesiger
- West Lake Riley Road Snohomish County
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- Headwaters In Ne1/4 Of Sec 14, T29n, R10e To Confluence With Canyon Creek
- 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
- Glacier Peak Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Sauk River
- Confluence Of Tye And Foss Rivers To Gold Bar
Track Rainbow Springs 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 Rainbow Springs Dam
Where does the data for Rainbow Springs 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 Rainbow Springs Dam.