Loon Lake Polishing Lagoon dam
Loon Lake Polishing Lagoon
Loon Lake Polishing Lagoon in Stevens, Washington, is a vital water resource managed by the Washington Dept of Ecology. This Earth dam, completed in 1986, serves as a crucial part of the Tr-Loon Lake-Offstream water system, with a hydraulic height of 12 feet and a storage capacity of 41 acre-feet. The lagoon covers a surface area of 3.9 acres and plays a key role in water purification and quality control for the region.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment and regular inspections, the Loon Lake Polishing Lagoon poses a high hazard potential, highlighting the importance of effective risk management and emergency preparedness. With a drainage area of 0.01 square miles and a maximum discharge rate of 2 cubic feet per second, the lagoon's impact on the surrounding environment and community cannot be understated. The presence of public utility ownership and state regulation further emphasize the significance of this water infrastructure in ensuring the well-being of local residents and preserving the natural ecosystem.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the Loon Lake Polishing Lagoon stands as a critical component in maintaining water quality and availability in the region. With its earth dam structure and rockfill core, this lagoon serves as a testament to the ongoing efforts to manage and protect water resources in the face of evolving environmental challenges. As enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience, understanding and supporting the maintenance and regulation of facilities like the Loon Lake Polishing Lagoon is essential for safeguarding our communities and natural surroundings for generations to come.
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 Loon Lake Polishing Lagoon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Spokane River At Elk | 48 cfs | → |
| Chamokane Creek Below Falls Near Long Lake | 31 cfs | → |
| Spokane River Below Nine Mile Dam At Spokane | 6,990 cfs | → |
| Little Spokane River Near Dartford | 447 cfs | → |
| Little Spokane River At Dartford | 200 cfs | → |
| Pend Oreille River At Newport Wa | 50,300 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Loon Lake Polishing Lagoon.
Boat launches
- Viewpoint Road 61, Newport
- South Shore Diamond Lake Road 765-1255, Newport
- Pondoray Shores Road, Newport
- North Aubrey L White Parkway Spokane
- Pow Wow Park, Cusick
- Kaniksu Drive Pend Oreille County
Track Loon Lake Polishing Lagoon 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 Loon Lake Polishing Lagoon
Where does the data for Loon Lake Polishing Lagoon 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 Loon Lake Polishing Lagoon.