Seattle City Volunteer Park Reservoir dam
Seattle City Volunteer Park Reservoir
The Seattle City Volunteer Park Reservoir, located within the Seattle city limits in King County, Washington, serves as a crucial water supply structure for the area. Completed in 1901, this Earth-type dam stands at a hydraulic height of 35 feet and a structural height of 20 feet, with a length of 790 feet and a storage capacity of 66 acre-feet. The reservoir covers a surface area of 3.1 acres and is regulated by the Washington Department of Ecology, ensuring its safe operation and maintenance.
With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of April 2021, the Volunteer Park Reservoir is regularly inspected and maintained to meet state regulatory standards. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in April 2021, indicating a commitment to preparedness and risk management. In case of any potential risks or emergencies, the reservoir is equipped with contact information for quick response and mitigation measures.
As a vital component of the local water supply infrastructure, the Seattle City Volunteer Park Reservoir represents a historic and essential resource for the community. Its location near Lake Union and offstream river systems underscores its significance in providing water for residents and businesses in the region. With ongoing monitoring and adherence to state regulations, this reservoir plays a key role in ensuring water security and resilience in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Seattle City Volunteer Park Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Thornton Creek Near Seattle | 41 cfs | → |
| Mercer Creek Near Bellevue | 12 cfs | → |
| Duwamish River At Golf Course At Tukwila | 6,700 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Renton | 335 cfs | → |
| Issaquah Creek Near Mouth Near Issaquah | 34 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Mouth At Orillia | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Seattle City Volunteer Park Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Spu Public Boat Launch
- 14th Avenue Northwest Seattle
- West Galer Street 3121, Seattle
- Lake Washington Boulevard South 3800, Seattle
- Stan Sayres Boat Launch
- Adams Street Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Fay Bainbridge State Park
- Fay Bainbridge State Park Campsite
- Cascadia Marine Trail
- Manchester State Park
- Manchester State Park Campground
- Illahee State Park
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
- Brothers Wilderness Boundary To Olympic Nf Boundary
- Olympic Nf/Olympic Np Bounary To Brothers Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters In Ne1/4 Of Sec 14, T29n, R10e To Confluence With Canyon Creek
Track Seattle City Volunteer Park Reservoir 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 Seattle City Volunteer Park Reservoir
Where does the data for Seattle City Volunteer Park Reservoir 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 Seattle City Volunteer Park Reservoir.