South Fork Mccorkle Creek Detention Dam Dam
South Fork Mccorkle Creek Detention Dam
South Fork Mccorkle Creek Detention Dam, located in Lexington, Washington, is a crucial structure owned by the local government to reduce flood risks in the area. Completed in 1989, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 22 feet and a length of 625 feet, with a storage capacity of 322 acre-feet. Situated on the South Fork McCorkle Creek, this dam plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding communities from potential flooding events.
With a hazard potential rated as "high" and a fair condition assessment as of 2015, the South Fork Mccorkle Creek Detention Dam is regularly inspected to ensure its structural integrity. The Washington Department of Ecology is the regulatory agency responsible for overseeing the dam's operations, inspections, and enforcement. While the dam has not been modified in recent years, emergency action plans and risk management measures are key components to consider for enhancing safety preparedness and response in case of emergencies.
Congressional District 03, represented by Jaime Herrera Beutler, encompasses the area where the dam is located, highlighting the importance of federal and state collaboration in managing water resources and mitigating climate-related risks. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding and advocating for the maintenance and improvement of critical infrastructure like the South Fork Mccorkle Creek Detention Dam is essential for ensuring the resilience of communities in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 South Fork Mccorkle Creek Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cowlitz River At Castle Rock | 4,010 cfs | → |
| Toutle River At Tower Road Near Silver Lake | 414 cfs | → |
| Columbia River @ Beaver Army Terminal Nr Quincy | 300,000 cfs | → |
| South Fork Toutle River At Toutle | 868 cfs | → |
| South Fork Chehalis River Near Wildwood | 56 cfs | → |
| Nf Toutle River Below Srs Near Kid Valley | 127 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Fork Mccorkle Creek Detention Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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River runs
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About South Fork Mccorkle Creek Detention Dam
Where does the data for South Fork Mccorkle Creek Detention 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 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 below 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.
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.