Square Lake Dam dam
Square Lake Dam
Square Lake Dam, located in Leavenworth, Washington, is a crucial part of the region's water management infrastructure. Built in 1938 for irrigation purposes, this rockfill dam on Prospect Creek stands at a structural height of 7 feet and has a storage capacity of 913 acre-feet. With a surface area of 500 acres and a drainage area of 1.2 square miles, the dam plays a vital role in regulating water flow and storage for agricultural use in the surrounding area.
Despite its importance, Square Lake Dam has been deemed to have a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, requiring frequent inspections and maintenance. The last inspection in August 2018 highlighted the need for improvements to ensure the safety and functionality of the dam. Managed by a public utility, the dam is under the jurisdiction of the Washington Department of Ecology, which oversees its regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure compliance with state standards and guidelines.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and management of dams like Square Lake Dam become increasingly critical. With its historical significance and continued importance for irrigation and recreation, ensuring the safety and efficiency of Square Lake Dam is essential for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
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 Square Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Icicle Creek Above Snow Creek Near Leavenworth | 1,400 cfs | → |
| Wenatchee River At Plain | 5,280 cfs | → |
| South Fork Tolt River Near Index | 78 cfs | → |
| Wenatchee River At Peshastin | 7,160 cfs | → |
| Chiwawa River Near Plain | 1,350 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Near Tanner | 1,610 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Square Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Cooper Lake Boat Launch
- Bakers Lane, Easton
- Leavenworth Public Boat Launch
- Keechelus Lake Boat Launch
- Salmon La Sac Road, Ronald
- King County
Campgrounds
- Rock Island
- Rock Island Campground
- Waptus Lake Camp
- Chatter Creek
- Chatter Creek Campground
- Trout Lake Creek
Paddle runs
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Tye River
- Headwaters At Outlet Of Trico Lake In Sw 1/4 Of Sec 5 T24n, R14e To Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters In Nw1/4 Of Sec 12, T24n, R13e To Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters In Sw 1/4 Of Sec 11, T24n, R13e To Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters At Josephine Lake To Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With East Fork Foss River
Track Square 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 Square Lake Dam
Where does the data for Square 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 Square Lake Dam.