Colchuck Lake Dam dam
Colchuck Lake Dam
Colchuck Lake Dam, located in Leavenworth, Washington, stands as a vital structure along Colchuck Creek, boasting a rockfill design that has served its primary purpose of recreation since its completion in 1930. With a hydraulic height of 17.62 feet and a storage capacity of 1548 acre-feet, this dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow for both irrigation and recreational activities in the area.
Despite its significance, Colchuck Lake Dam has been deemed to have a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, as of the last inspection in August 2018. With Washington Department of Ecology as the primary regulatory agency, the dam is subject to state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) was last revised in June 2021, indicating ongoing efforts to ensure public safety in the event of a potential breach or other emergencies.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the data surrounding Colchuck Lake Dam highlights the intricate balance between human infrastructure and natural ecosystems. The dam's presence underscores the importance of responsible management and maintenance to protect both the environment and the communities that rely on its services. With continued monitoring and risk assessment, this iconic structure will continue to play a vital role in sustaining the delicate balance of water resources in the region.
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 Colchuck Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Icicle Creek Above Snow Creek Near Leavenworth | 1,140 cfs | → |
| Wenatchee River At Peshastin | 6,220 cfs | → |
| Wenatchee River At Monitor | 6,170 cfs | → |
| Wenatchee River At Plain | 4,400 cfs | → |
| Chiwawa River Near Plain | 1,180 cfs | → |
| Mad River At Ardenvoir | 274 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Colchuck Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Leavenworth Public Boat Launch
- Cooper Lake Boat Launch
- Salmon La Sac Road, Ronald
- Lake Cabins Road Kittitas County
- Bakers Lane, Easton
- Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail, Wenatchee
Campgrounds
- Leprechaun Lake Backcountry Camping
- Eightmile Campground
- Bridge Creek Camping
- Trout Lake Creek
- Bean Creek Basin Backcountry Camping
- Icicle Group Campground
Paddle runs
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary To City Of Leavenworth Water Intake In Se1/4 Of Sec 28, T24n, R17e
- Rock Island Campground To Ida Creek
- Outlet Of Lake Wenatchee To Wenatchee Nf Boundary
- Headwaters At Josephine Lake To Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary To Private Land Boundary At North Section Line Of Sec 3, T23n, R14e
- Headwaters In Nw1/4 Of Sec 12, T24n, R13e To Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary
Track Colchuck 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 Colchuck Lake Dam
Where does the data for Colchuck 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 Colchuck Lake Dam.