Horton Road Detention Dam dam
Horton Road Detention Dam
Located in Ferndale, Washington, the Horton Road Detention Dam serves as a crucial flood risk reduction structure along an unnamed tributary to Silver Creek. Completed in 1994, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 13 feet, providing a storage capacity of 21 acre-feet to mitigate potential flooding in the area. The dam is owned and regulated by the Washington Department of Ecology, ensuring its compliance with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements.
With a high hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the Horton Road Detention Dam plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding community from the impacts of extreme weather events. Managed by local government authorities, the dam undergoes regular inspections every 5 years to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. In case of emergencies, an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is in place, although its last revision was in 2018, highlighting the need for ongoing risk management measures and preparedness efforts to safeguard the area against potential inundation risks.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Horton Road Detention Dam stands as a testament to proactive flood risk reduction efforts in Washington state. With a design focused on mitigating potential flooding events, this structure showcases the importance of effective dam management and maintenance to protect communities and ecosystems from the impacts of extreme weather events. As climate change continues to pose challenges to water resource management, the Horton Road Detention Dam serves as a reminder of the crucial role that infrastructure plays in building resilience to the changing climate.
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 Horton Road Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nooksack River At Ferndale | 2,290 cfs | → |
| Carpenter Creek At N Shore Drive Nr Bellingham | 1 cfs | → |
| Anderson Creek At Smith Road Near Goshen | 4 cfs | → |
| Olsen Creek Near Bellingham | 1 cfs | → |
| Fishtrap Creek At Front Street At Lynden | 23 cfs | → |
| Nooksack River At North Cedarville | 2,750 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Horton Road Detention Dam.
Boat launches
- East Wiser Lake Road 145, Lynden
- Galbriath Loop Bellingham
- Guide Meridian Road Whatcom County
- Beach Avenue Whatcom County
- South Bay Drive 3186-3234, Sedro-Woolley
- Chuckanut Drive 3098, Skagit County
Campgrounds
- Cedar Lake Camp
- Pine Lake Camp
- Larrabee State Park
- Lizard Lake Camp
- Birch Bay State Park Campground
- Sumas Mtn. Outpost Cabin
Paddle runs
- Fish Hatchery To Confluence With South Fork Nooksack River
- Nooksack Falls Power Plant To Fish Hatchery Near Kendall, Wa
- Douglas Fir Campground To Mt. Baker Highway
- 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
Track Horton Road Detention 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 Horton Road Detention Dam
Where does the data for Horton Road Detention 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 Horton Road Detention Dam.