Regulating Basin West Dam dam
Regulating Basin West Dam
Regulating Basin West Dam, also known as Tolt Dam, serves as a critical water supply structure in King County, Washington. Built in 1962 by Carey & Kramer Consulting Engineers, this earth dam stands at a height of 32 feet and has a storage capacity of 882 acre-feet. The primary purpose of the dam is to provide water supply, with secondary purposes including hydroelectric power generation.
Located on the North & South Fork Tolt River, this dam falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and is operated by the local government. Despite its high hazard potential, with a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam has not undergone recent condition assessments. Emergency action plans are in place, although there is room for improvement in meeting guidelines and preparedness for potential risks.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in the region would find Regulating Basin West Dam to be a fascinating structure with a significant impact on the surrounding ecosystem. With its crucial role in water supply and potential for hydroelectric power generation, the dam represents a balance between resource management and environmental conservation. Monitoring and maintenance efforts are essential to ensure the safety and sustainability of this vital infrastructure in the face of changing climate patterns and water resource demands.
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 Regulating Basin West Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sf Tolt River Bl Regulating Basin Nr Carnation | 73 cfs | → |
| North Fork Tolt River Near Carnation | 68 cfs | → |
| Tolt River Near Carnation | 202 cfs | → |
| South Fork Tolt River Near Carnation | 67 cfs | → |
| Snoqualmie River Near Carnation | 831 cfs | → |
| Nf Snoqualmie River Near Snoqualmie Falls | 144 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Regulating Basin West Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Marcel Community Park
- Lake Langlois Road Northeast King County
- Northeast Tolt Hill Road 30348-30762, Carnation
- King County
- Southeast Fish Hatchery Road 36495-37159, Fall City
- Stevens Pass Highway Sultan
Paddle runs
- Snoqualmie Falls To Plum's Landing
- Confluence Of Tye And Foss Rivers To Gold Bar
- Confluence With Troublesome Creek To Confluence With South Fork Skykomish River
- Confluence With Taylor River To Confluence With North Fork Snoqualmie River
- Wagner Bridge To Confluence With Middle Fork Snoqualmie River
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary To Quartz Creek Road
Track Regulating Basin West 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 Regulating Basin West Dam
Where does the data for Regulating Basin West 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 Regulating Basin West Dam.