Thorald Dam dam
Thorald Dam
Thorald Dam, located in Washington's San Juan County, serves as an essential irrigation source with a primary purpose of supplying water for agricultural needs. Completed in 1988, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 19 feet and a structural height of 16 feet, with a length of 400 feet. The dam boasts a storage capacity of 98 acre-feet, providing water for irrigation and recreation purposes in the region.
Managed by a private entity, Thorald Dam is regulated by the Washington Department of Ecology, ensuring state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," the dam poses minimal risk to the surrounding area. Despite not being rated, the dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status, risk assessment, and risk management measures are currently unspecified, indicating a potential area for improvement in terms of disaster preparedness.
Nestled along the Tr-Parks Bay river or stream, Thorald Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. With its strategic location and solid construction, this dam stands as a testament to human ingenuity in harnessing water resources for the benefit of local communities while maintaining a low risk profile. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Thorald Dam offers a fascinating case study in dam engineering and management within the picturesque landscape of San Juan County, Washington.
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 Thorald Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nooksack River At Ferndale | 3,120 cfs | → |
| Samish River Near Burlington | 117 cfs | → |
| Skagit River Near Mount Vernon | 18,300 cfs | → |
| Olsen Creek Near Bellingham | 2 cfs | → |
| Carpenter Creek At N Shore Drive Nr Bellingham | 1 cfs | → |
| Brannian Creek At S Bay Dr Nr Wickersham | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Thorald Dam.
Boat launches
- Dock Road 98, San Juan County
- Odlin Park Road 177-199, Lopez Island
- Cayou Quay Marina
- Hummel Lake Road 674, Lopez Island
- Sylvan Cove Road San Juan County
- San Juan County
Campgrounds
- Spencer Spit State Park Campground
- Cascadia Marine Trail Campsite
- Moran State Park Campground
- Fox Cove Camp
- Washington Park Campground
- Snoring Bay Camp
Paddle runs
- Fish Hatchery To Confluence With South Fork Nooksack River
- Sleepy Hollow Creek To Olympic Nf Boundary
- Usfs Road 2870 Bridge To Confluence With Dungeness River
- Olympic Nf/Olympic Np Boundary To Usfs Road 2870 Bridge
- 1.4 Miles Upstream From Confluence With Elwha River To Confluence With Elwha River
- Silver Creek To Sleepy Hollow Creek
Track Thorald 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 Thorald Dam
Where does the data for Thorald 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 Thorald Dam.