Newcastle Railroad Embankment Dam dam
Newcastle Railroad Embankment Dam
The Newcastle Railroad Embankment Dam, located in Newcastle, Washington, was completed in 1900 for the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Tr - May Creek. This earth dam with a stone core stands at a hydraulic height of 55 feet and a structural height of 50 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 120 acre-feet. The dam covers a surface area of 1 acre and has a drainage area of 0.23 square miles, with a maximum discharge capacity of 1530 cubic feet per second.
Despite its critical role in flood risk management, the Newcastle Railroad Embankment Dam has been assessed as being in poor condition with a high hazard potential. The last inspection conducted in August 2018 revealed the dam's deteriorating state, prompting concerns about its ability to withstand potential flooding events. With the dam falling under state jurisdiction and regulation by the Washington Department of Ecology, there is a pressing need for maintenance and potential repair work to ensure the dam's continued effectiveness in protecting the surrounding area from flooding.
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 Newcastle Railroad Embankment Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar River At Renton | 339 cfs | → |
| Duwamish River At Golf Course At Tukwila | 6,700 cfs | → |
| Mercer Creek Near Bellevue | 12 cfs | → |
| Issaquah Creek Near Mouth Near Issaquah | 43 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Mouth At Orillia | 6 cfs | → |
| Spring Brook Creek At Orillia | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Newcastle Railroad Embankment Dam.
Boat launches
- Mercer Island Boat Launch
- I 90 Trail Bellevue
- Adams Street Boat Ramp
- Stan Sayres Boat Launch
- Lake Washington Boulevard South 3800, Seattle
- Shady Lake Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- Snoqualmie Falls To Plum's Landing
- Confluence With Taylor River To Confluence With North Fork Snoqualmie River
- Wagner Bridge To Confluence With Middle Fork Snoqualmie River
- Quartz Road To Confluence With Middle Fork Snoqualmie River
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary To Quartz Creek Road
- Huckleberry Creek To Confluence With Clearwater River
Track Newcastle Railroad Embankment 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 Newcastle Railroad Embankment Dam
Where does the data for Newcastle Railroad Embankment 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 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 Newcastle Railroad Embankment Dam.