Boyd Lower Reservoir Dam dam
Boyd Lower Reservoir Dam
Boyd Lower Reservoir Dam, located in San Juan, Washington, serves as a crucial irrigation source in the area. Completed in 1960, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 16.5 feet and has a storage capacity of 18 acre-feet. The dam is owned privately and regulated by the Washington Department of Ecology, ensuring that it meets state standards for inspection, enforcement, and permitting.
Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, Boyd Lower Reservoir Dam continues to play a vital role in managing water resources for the surrounding region. With a surface area of 1.3 acres and a normal storage capacity of 9.4 acre-feet, the dam helps control the flow of the Tr-East Sound river. Its stone core and soil foundation provide structural integrity, while its location within Congressional District 02 adds to its significance in the local water management infrastructure.
Although lacking certain details such as spillway type and maximum discharge, Boyd Lower Reservoir Dam remains a noteworthy feature in the water resource landscape. With its last inspection conducted in August 2017 and a scheduled inspection frequency of 5 years, the dam's ongoing maintenance and risk management efforts ensure its continued functionality and safety for the community it serves.
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 Boyd Lower Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nooksack River At Ferndale | 3,450 cfs | → |
| Samish River Near Burlington | 126 cfs | → |
| Olsen Creek Near Bellingham | 3 cfs | → |
| Carpenter Creek At N Shore Drive Nr Bellingham | 1 cfs | → |
| Brannian Creek At S Bay Dr Nr Wickersham | 2 cfs | → |
| Anderson Creek Near Bellingham | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Boyd Lower Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Odlin Park Road 177-199, Lopez Island
- Cypress Head Trail Skagit County
- Sylvan Cove Road San Juan County
- Dock Road 98, San Juan County
- Hummel Lake Road 674, Lopez Island
- Davis Beach Road San Juan County
Campgrounds
- Cascadia Marine Trail Campsite
- Moran State Park Campground
- Spencer Spit State Park Campground
- Cascade Marine Trail, Campsite For Human Powered Boats
- Snoring Bay Camp
- Fox Cove Camp
Paddle runs
- Fish Hatchery To Confluence With South Fork Nooksack River
- Nooksack Falls Power Plant To Fish Hatchery Near Kendall, Wa
- Headwaters In Ne1/4 Of Sec 23, T37n, R7e To Confluence With Soufh Fork Nooksack River
- Headwaters To Confluence With Bell Creek
- Bell Creek To Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Nf Boundary
- Canyon Creek To Confluence With North Fork Stillaguamish River
Track Boyd Lower Reservoir 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 Boyd Lower Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Boyd Lower Reservoir 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 Boyd Lower Reservoir Dam.