Helsell Dam dam
Helsell Dam
Helsell Dam, located in San Juan, Washington, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1999 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam stands at a hydraulic height of 16 feet and has a structural height of 16 feet, with a length of 150 feet. It has a maximum storage capacity of 82 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 55 acre-feet, serving as a source of water resource for the area.
The dam is situated on an unnamed creek and is under the regulatory jurisdiction of the Washington Department of Ecology. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently not rated. The last inspection of the dam was conducted in August 2009, with no further updates on its emergency action plan or risk management measures.
With its picturesque location and potential for recreational activities, Helsell Dam serves as a vital water resource in the region. However, continuous monitoring and assessment of the dam's condition and risk management measures are essential to ensure the safety and sustainability of its operations in the face of climate change and evolving water resource management practices.
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 Helsell Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nooksack River At Ferndale | 3,120 cfs | → |
| Olsen Creek Near Bellingham | 2 cfs | → |
| Carpenter Creek At N Shore Drive Nr Bellingham | 1 cfs | → |
| Fishtrap Creek At Front Street At Lynden | 24 cfs | → |
| Samish River Near Burlington | 107 cfs | → |
| Anderson Creek At Smith Road Near Goshen | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Helsell Dam.
Boat launches
- Cayou Quay Marina
- Dock Road 98, San Juan County
- San Juan County
- Saint John's Road San Juan County
- Odlin Park Road 177-199, Lopez Island
Campgrounds
- Moran State Park Campground
- Fox Cove Camp
- Shallow Bay South
- Snoring Bay Camp
- Cascadia Marine Trail Campsite
- Shallow Bay North Camp
Paddle runs
- Fish Hatchery To Confluence With South Fork Nooksack River
- Nooksack Falls Power Plant To Fish Hatchery Near Kendall, Wa
- 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
Track Helsell 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 Helsell Dam
Where does the data for Helsell 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 Helsell Dam.