Whitestone Lake Dam dam
Whitestone Lake Dam
Whitestone Lake Dam is a private rockfill dam located in Tonasket, Washington, along the Tr-Okanogan River. Completed in 1930, this dam primarily serves the purpose of recreation and irrigation, with a storage capacity of 2,720 acre-feet and a surface area of 192 acres. The dam stands at a hydraulic height of 9 feet and a structural height of 8 feet, providing low hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition assessment.
Owned by a private entity, Whitestone Lake Dam is regulated by the Washington Department of Ecology and is subject to state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 825 cubic feet per second and is located in Congressional District 04, Washington, represented by Dan Newhouse. Despite lacking certain structural information such as dam volume and spillway type, Whitestone Lake Dam remains an important water resource in Okanogan County, Washington, supporting both recreational and agricultural activities in the region.
With its historical significance and ongoing role in water management, Whitestone Lake Dam serves as a vital asset for the community. While its condition assessment is incomplete, the dam's low hazard potential and adherence to state regulations ensure its continued operation for irrigation, recreation, and water resource management. As climate change continues to impact water resources, Whitestone Lake Dam exemplifies the importance of maintaining and monitoring infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of both humans and the environment in the face of a changing climate.
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 Whitestone Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Okanogan River At Oroville | 164 cfs | → |
| Okanogan River Near Tonasket | 5,120 cfs | → |
| Similkameen River Near Nighthawk | 4,950 cfs | → |
| Omak Creek Near Omak | 3 cfs | → |
| Andrews Creek Near Mazama | 107 cfs | → |
| Kettle River Near Ferry | 2,540 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Whitestone Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Loomis-Oroville Road 322, Tonasket
- Windy Flat Road Okanogan County
- Loomis-Oroville Road 1667, Loomis
- Split Rock
- Deep Bay Road 98, Oroville
- South Fish Lake Road, Okanogan
Campgrounds
Track Whitestone 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 Whitestone Lake Dam
Where does the data for Whitestone 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 Whitestone Lake Dam.