Firnstahl Dam dam
Firnstahl Dam
Firnstahl Dam, located in Snohomish, Washington, was completed in 1965 and serves primarily for recreational purposes. This private earth dam on Tr-Siberia Creek stands at 19 feet high with a hydraulic height of 17 feet. With a storage capacity of 62 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 50 acres and has a drainage area of 0.4 square miles.
Maintained by the Washington Department of Ecology, Firnstahl Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with standards. Despite its low hazard potential and not yet rated condition assessment, the dam has not been modified over the years. It is equipped with spillways, though specific details on their type and width are not provided. The dam's emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and management measures are currently unspecified.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Firnstahl Dam offers a fascinating case study of a privately owned recreational dam in Washington state. Its design, purpose, and regulatory oversight provide valuable insights into the management and maintenance of small-scale water infrastructure. As the dam continues to serve the local community, further assessments and updates on its condition and emergency preparedness may be necessary to ensure its long-term sustainability and safety.
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 Firnstahl Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nf Stillaguamish River Near Arlington | 1,460 cfs | → |
| East Branch Tulalip Creek Nr Mouth Nr Tulalip | 2 cfs | → |
| Tulalip Creek Above East Branch Near Tulalip | 7 cfs | → |
| Mission Creek Near Tulalip | 6 cfs | → |
| Tulalip Creek Near Tulalip | 12 cfs | → |
| Pilchuck River Near Snohomish | 614 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Firnstahl Dam.
Boat launches
- Snohomish County
- West Lake Riley Road Snohomish County
- 99th Avenue Northeast 5711, Lake Stevens
- 123rd Drive Northeast 1709, Lake Stevens
- 57th Street Northeast Marysville
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- Canyon Creek To Confluence With North Fork Stillaguamish River
- Headwaters In Ne1/4 Of Sec 14, T29n, R10e To Confluence With Canyon Creek
- Headwaters In Sw1/4 Of Sec 7, T31n, R9e To Boulder River Wilderness Boundary
- Boulder River Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Stillaguamish River
- Glacier Peak Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Sauk River
- Confluence Of Tye And Foss Rivers To Gold Bar
Track Firnstahl 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 Firnstahl Dam
Where does the data for Firnstahl 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 Firnstahl Dam.