Cranberry Lake Dam dam
Cranberry Lake Dam
Cranberry Lake Dam, located within the Anacortes City Limits in Skagit County, Washington, is a vital structure designed for recreation purposes. Built in 1910, this earth dam stands at a height of 13 feet with a length of 380 feet, creating a storage capacity of 234 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Cranberry Creek and serves as a popular spot for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation.
Managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, Cranberry Lake Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential with a fair condition assessment. The dam's inspection frequency is set at every 5 years, with the last assessment conducted in August 2017. While the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, it meets state regulatory requirements for permitting, inspection, and enforcement. With its stone core and soil foundation, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and flood control in the region.
Despite its age, Cranberry Lake Dam continues to provide valuable recreational opportunities while ensuring the safety and stability of the surrounding area. As climate change impacts water resources and weather patterns, the dam's role in managing water levels and protecting downstream communities becomes increasingly important. With ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts, the dam remains a key asset in safeguarding the ecological and recreational value of Cranberry Creek for future generations.
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 Cranberry Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Samish River Near Burlington | 107 cfs | → |
| Skagit River Near Mount Vernon | 17,500 cfs | → |
| Brannian Creek At S Bay Dr Nr Wickersham | 2 cfs | → |
| Anderson Creek Near Bellingham | 6 cfs | → |
| Olsen Creek Near Bellingham | 2 cfs | → |
| Carpenter Creek At N Shore Drive Nr Bellingham | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cranberry Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- T Avenue 209, Anacortes
- 210 Anacortes
- Washington Park Loop, Anacortes
- Boat Launch Road, Anacortes
- Cypress Head Trail Skagit County
- Rosario Road Skagit County
Campgrounds
- Washington Park Campground
- Cascade Marine Trail, Campsite For Human Powered Boats
- Quaker Cove Retreat
- Bay View State Park
- Spencer Spit State Park Campground
- Cascadia Marine Trail Campsite
Paddle runs
- Fish Hatchery To Confluence With South Fork Nooksack River
- Canyon Creek To Confluence With North Fork Stillaguamish River
- Nooksack Falls Power Plant To Fish Hatchery Near Kendall, Wa
- Bell Creek To Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Nf Boundary
- Headwaters To Confluence With Bell Creek
- Headwaters In Ne1/4 Of Sec 23, T37n, R7e To Confluence With Soufh Fork Nooksack River
Track Cranberry 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 Cranberry Lake Dam
Where does the data for Cranberry 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 Cranberry Lake Dam.