Buck Mountain Reservoir Dam No 3 dam
Buck Mountain Reservoir Dam No 3
Buck Mountain Reservoir Dam No 3, located in East Sound, Washington, serves as a vital water supply source in San Juan County. Completed in 1985, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 18 feet and has a structural height of 13 feet. With a normal storage capacity of 121 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 156 acre-feet, the reservoir covers a surface area of 10.5 acres and drains a 0.57 square mile area.
Owned and regulated by a private entity, this dam is under the jurisdiction of the Washington Department of Ecology and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its fair condition. With a high hazard potential, the dam has an inspection frequency of 5 years and a last assessment conducted in June 2019. Despite meeting regulatory guidelines, Buck Mountain Reservoir Dam No 3 remains a critical infrastructure for water resource management in the region, with a maximum discharge capacity of 365 cubic feet per second.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Buck Mountain Reservoir Dam No 3 presents an intriguing case study in dam infrastructure management. With its location in a picturesque setting and its importance in providing essential water supply services, this earth dam stands as a testament to the delicate balance between human development and environmental conservation in the Pacific Northwest. As discussions around climate resilience and water security continue to gain prominence, the maintenance and monitoring of dams like Buck Mountain Reservoir Dam No 3 are crucial for ensuring the sustainable management 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 Buck Mountain Reservoir Dam No 3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nooksack River At Ferndale | 2,140 cfs | → |
| Olsen Creek Near Bellingham | 1 cfs | → |
| Carpenter Creek At N Shore Drive Nr Bellingham | 1 cfs | → |
| Fishtrap Creek At Front Street At Lynden | 23 cfs | → |
| Anderson Creek At Smith Road Near Goshen | 1 cfs | → |
| Samish River Near Burlington | 83 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Buck Mountain Reservoir Dam No 3.
Boat launches
- Cayou Quay Marina
- Dock Road 98, San Juan County
- Odlin Park Road 177-199, Lopez Island
- Beach Avenue Whatcom County
- Hummel Lake Road 674, Lopez Island
- Cypress Head Trail Skagit County
Campgrounds
- Moran State Park Campground
- Snoring Bay Camp
- Fox Cove Camp
- Shallow Bay South
- Echo Bay East Camp
- Echo Bay North Camp
Paddle runs
- Fish Hatchery To Confluence With South Fork Nooksack River
- Nooksack Falls Power Plant To Fish Hatchery Near Kendall, Wa
- Headwaters In Ne1/4 Of Sec 23, T37n, R7e To Confluence With Soufh Fork Nooksack River
- Headwaters To Confluence With Bell Creek
- Bell Creek To Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Nf Boundary
- Douglas Fir Campground To Mt. Baker Highway
Track Buck Mountain Reservoir Dam No 3 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 Buck Mountain Reservoir Dam No 3
Where does the data for Buck Mountain Reservoir Dam No 3 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 Buck Mountain Reservoir Dam No 3.