Bitter Lake Reservoir dam
Bitter Lake Reservoir
Bitter Lake Reservoir, located within Seattle City Limits in King County, Washington, is a vital water supply source managed by the local government. The reservoir, with a storage capacity of 71 acre-feet and a surface area of 3.3 acres, serves as a crucial resource for the surrounding area. Completed in 1958, the earth dam structure stands at a hydraulic height of 27 feet, providing the necessary water storage for the region.
Managed by the Washington Dept of Ecology, Bitter Lake Reservoir is regulated and inspected regularly to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam's hazard potential is classified as high, but its condition assessment remains satisfactory as of the last inspection in September 2020. With a designated emergency action plan and updated contact information, the reservoir is well-prepared to handle any potential risks or emergencies.
Being part of the Tr-Puget Sound-Offstream system, Bitter Lake Reservoir plays a crucial role in water supply management for the region. With its strategic location and efficient operation, the reservoir continues to support the community's water needs while adhering to regulatory guidelines and safety standards.
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 Bitter Lake 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 | → |
| Snohomish River Near Monroe | 4,030 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 | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bitter Lake Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Beach Drive Northeast 17218, Lake Forest Park
- 68th Avenue Northeast 17181-17299, Kenmore
- 14th Avenue Northwest Seattle
- Spu Public Boat Launch
- West Galer Street 3121, Seattle
- East Shore Drive Snohomish County
Campgrounds
- Fay Bainbridge State Park Campsite
- Fay Bainbridge State Park
- Cascadia Marine Trail
- Wwta Campsite (Human Powered Boats Only)
- Manchester State Park
- Manchester State Park Campground
Paddle runs
- Snoqualmie Falls To Plum's Landing
- Brothers Wilderness Boundary To Olympic Nf Boundary
- Confluence With Taylor River To Confluence With North Fork Snoqualmie River
- Wagner Bridge To Confluence With Middle Fork Snoqualmie River
- Headwaters In Ne1/4 Of Sec 14, T29n, R10e To Confluence With Canyon Creek
- Olympic Nf/Olympic Np Bounary To Brothers Wilderness Boundary
Track Bitter Lake 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 Bitter Lake Reservoir
Where does the data for Bitter Lake 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 Bitter Lake Reservoir.