Sawyer Lake Outlet Structure dam
Sawyer Lake Outlet Structure
The Sawyer Lake Outlet Structure, located in King County, Washington, is a privately owned gravity dam completed in 1952 for recreational purposes. The structure is situated on Covington Creek and has a hydraulic height of 10 feet and a structural height of 4 feet, with a total length of 94 feet. With a normal storage capacity of 1116 acre-feet and a surface area of 697 acres, the dam serves as a vital resource for water management in the area.
Managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, the Sawyer Lake Outlet Structure has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment. While the dam has not been inspected in recent years, it is subject to state regulations, inspections, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with standards. Despite its age, the dam continues to provide recreational opportunities and support the surrounding ecosystem.
Although the dam does not have an emergency action plan in place, it meets guidelines for risk management and has not been assigned a Dam Safety Action Classification. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to monitor the condition of the Sawyer Lake Outlet Structure and advocate for proper maintenance and management to safeguard the community and environment from potential risks and hazards associated with the dam.
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 Sawyer Lake Outlet Structure -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Creek At Highway 516 Near Ravensdale | 11 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Near Maple Valley | 2 cfs | → |
| Cedar River Below Diversion Near Landsburg | 267 cfs | → |
| Newaukum Creek Near Black Diamond | 38 cfs | → |
| Big Soos Creek Above Hatchery Near Auburn | 80 cfs | → |
| Cedar River Near Landsburg | 447 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sawyer Lake Outlet Structure.
Boat launches
- Southeast 296th Street 22601, Black Diamond
- 148th Avenue Southeast Kent
- Southeast Green Valley Road 12507-12565, Auburn
- Shady Lake Boat Ramp
- Lake Fenwick Trail Kent
- King County
Campgrounds
- Kanaskat-Palmer State Park Campground
- Kanaskat Palmer Recreation Area
- Sunset Lake Camp
- Point Robinson Campground
- Dash Point State Park
- Dash Point Campground
Paddle runs
- Huckleberry Creek To Confluence With Clearwater River
- 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
- Confluence With Ipsut Creek To Western Boundary Of Mount Rainier National Park
- Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Nf/Mt. Ranier Np Boundary At North Section Line Of Sec 3, T17 N, R10e To Confluence With Huckleberry Creek
Track Sawyer Lake Outlet Structure 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 Sawyer Lake Outlet Structure
Where does the data for Sawyer Lake Outlet Structure 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 Sawyer Lake Outlet Structure.