Stevenson Dam dam
Stevenson Dam
Stevenson Dam, located in Yakima, Washington, is a privately owned structure that plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Completed in 1969, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 17 feet and a structural height of 15 feet, impounding Tr-Wide Hollow Creek to create a storage capacity of 27 acre-feet. With a hazard potential classified as high and a fair condition assessment, regular inspections are conducted to ensure the dam's safety and integrity.
Managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, Stevenson Dam is situated in an area with a drainage area of 1.07 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 98 cubic feet per second. While the primary purpose of the dam is for recreation, it also serves as a vital structure for regulating water flow and storage in the region. The dam's location in Congressional District 04, represented by Dan Newhouse, further underscores its significance in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the state.
Despite its modest size, Stevenson Dam stands as a testament to the importance of earth structures in supporting water management and recreational activities. As climate change impacts continue to shape water resource dynamics, the efficient operation and maintenance of dams like Stevenson are crucial in ensuring water security and environmental sustainability for generations to come.
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 Stevenson Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ahtanum Creek At Union Gap | 75 cfs | → |
| Yakima River Above Ahtanum Creek At Union Gap | 3,610 cfs | → |
| Toppenish Creek Near Fort Simcoe | 35 cfs | → |
| Yakima River At Umtanum | 1,780 cfs | → |
| Granger Drain At Granger | 43 cfs | → |
| Klickitat River Above West Fork Near Glenwood | 316 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Stevenson Dam.
Boat launches
- Rovetto Road 2, Yakima
- North Wenas Road 16361, Selah
- National Forest Development Road 714, Naches
- Roza Recreation Site
- Canyon Road 8681-9129, Yakima
- State Route 821 Kittitas County
Campgrounds
- Windy Point Campground
- Ahtanum Camp - State Forest
- Yakima Sportsman State Park
- Lost Lake Camping Area
- Hause Creek Campground
- Hause Creek
Paddle runs
- Yakima River Segment 2
- Yakima River Segment 1
- Headwaters In Se1/4 Of Sec 9, T14n, R11e To Goat Rocks Wilderness Boundary
- Confluence With Ranier Fork To Confluence With Bumping River
- Headwaters In Sw1/4 Of Sec 27, T12n, R11e To Goat Rocks Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters At American Lake To Confluence With Ranier Fork
Track Stevenson 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 Stevenson Dam
Where does the data for Stevenson 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 Stevenson Dam.