Slavic Lake Dam dam
Slavic Lake Dam
Slavic Lake Dam, also known as Butko Dam, is a private-owned structure in Pierce, Washington, with a primary purpose of recreation. Constructed in 1990 by Kegel Engineering, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 8 feet and a length of 40 feet. With a normal storage capacity of 8 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 10 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 8 acres and serves a drainage area of 2 square miles.
Though the dam is state-regulated and inspected by the Washington Dept of Ecology, it has been assessed to be in poor condition, with a high hazard potential. The last inspection in September 2014 revealed its deteriorating state, warranting attention for maintenance and potential risk mitigation measures. Despite its structural concerns, Slavic Lake Dam remains a focal point for recreation enthusiasts in the area, drawing visitors to its picturesque surroundings and serene waters.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Slavic Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned recreational structure facing challenges in maintenance and risk management. As discussions around dam safety and infrastructure resilience continue to gain importance, monitoring and addressing the condition of dams like Slavic Lake Dam become crucial in ensuring the safety of communities and the preservation of water resources for future generations.
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 Slavic Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Huge Creek Near Wauna | 7 cfs | → |
| Leach Creek Near Fircrest | 2 cfs | → |
| Chambers Creek Bl Leach Creek Near Steilacoom | 165 cfs | → |
| Flett Creek At Tacoma | 11 cfs | → |
| Clover Creek Near Tillicum | 29 cfs | → |
| Skokomish River Near Potlatch | 512 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Slavic Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Hall Road Kp North 17820-17998, Vaughn
- Wright Bliss Road Nw Pierce County
- Highway 3 18560, Belfair
- 177th Avenue Kp North 3300, Lakebay
- Sidney Road Southwest 15013-15015, Port Orchard
- 3041 E Mason Lake Dr E, Grapeview, Wa 98546
Campgrounds
- Kopachuck State Park
- Wwta Camp Site
- Penrose Point State Park
- Jarrell Cove State Park
- Belfair State Park
- Gig Harbor Rv Resort
Paddle runs
- Brothers Wilderness Boundary To Olympic Nf Boundary
- Olympic Nf/Olympic Np Bounary To Brothers Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters- Includes All Tributaries To Confluence With North Fork Skokomish River
- Headwaters To Confluence With North Fork Skokomish River
- Headwaters- Includes All Tributaries To Confluence With Duckabush River
Track Slavic Lake 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 Slavic Lake Dam
Where does the data for Slavic Lake 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 Slavic Lake Dam.