Melbourne Lake Dam dam
Melbourne Lake Dam
Melbourne Lake Dam in Mason, Washington, serves as a vital resource for fish and wildlife, as well as recreational activities. Completed in 1957, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 9 feet and spans 100 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 238 acre-feet and a surface area of 35 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in supporting the surrounding ecosystem.
Managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, Melbourne Lake Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition has not been formally rated, and its last inspection dates back to 1998. While there are no emergency action plans in place currently, the dam continues to provide essential services to the local community and environment.
Located on Tr-Eagle Creek, Melbourne Lake Dam is a testament to the importance of water resource management in the region. With its primary purpose being to support fish and wildlife populations, the dam also offers opportunities for recreational activities. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and upkeep of structures like Melbourne Lake Dam are essential for ensuring a sustainable future for both humans and wildlife.
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 Melbourne Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nf Skokomish R Bl Staircase Rpds Nr Hoodsport | 118 cfs | → |
| North Fork Skokomish River Near Potlatch | 254 cfs | → |
| South Fork Skokomish River Near Union | 172 cfs | → |
| Skokomish River Near Potlatch | 512 cfs | → |
| Duckabush River Near Brinnon | 155 cfs | → |
| Big Quilcene River Below Diversion Nr Quilcene | 40 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Melbourne Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Us 101 Mason County
- Highway 106 5101, Union
- Lorna Lee Way Mason County
- 3041 E Mason Lake Dr E, Grapeview, Wa 98546
- Northeast State Highway 300 Mason County
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- Headwaters- Includes All Tributaries To Confluence With North Fork Skokomish River
- Headwaters To Confluence With North Fork Skokomish River
- Headwaters To Southern Boundary Of Olympic National Park
- Headwaters- Includes All Tributaries And Excludes Scout Lake And Hagen Lake To Confluence With Duckabush River
- Headwaters- Includes All Tributaries And Excludes Flapjack Lakes To Confluence With North Fork Skokomish River
Track Melbourne 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 Melbourne Lake Dam
Where does the data for Melbourne 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 Low 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 Melbourne Lake Dam.