West Fork Dam dam
West Fork Dam
West Fork Dam, located in Hoquiam, Washington, is a gravity-type dam built in 1956 for water supply purposes on the West Fork of the Hoquiam River. The dam has a structural height of 13 feet and a hydraulic height of 16 feet, with a storage capacity of 24 acre-feet. Despite its small size, the dam is state-regulated by the Washington Dept of Ecology and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
The dam's hazard potential is classified as significant, but its condition assessment is deemed satisfactory as of the last inspection in August 2018. The emergency action plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in July 2014, and while details on its current status are not provided, the dam's risk management measures and adherence to guidelines are not specified. With its primary purpose being water supply, West Fork Dam plays a crucial role in providing a reliable source of water for the surrounding area, highlighting the importance of maintaining its structural integrity and regulatory compliance.
Managed by local government authorities, West Fork Dam serves as a critical infrastructure in Grays Harbor County, Washington. Its location within Congressional District 06, represented by Derek Kilmer, reflects the collaborative efforts between state and federal agencies in overseeing the dam's operations and ensuring its functionality. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the data on West Fork Dam offers insights into the intricate network of dams and reservoirs that contribute to water management and conservation efforts in the region, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices to safeguard these vital 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 West Fork Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Humptulips River Below Hwy 101 Nr Humptulips | 263 cfs | → |
| Wynoochee River Above Black Creek Nr Montesano | 275 cfs | → |
| Wynoochee River Above Save Creek Near Aberdeen | 308 cfs | → |
| Satsop River Near Satsop | 602 cfs | → |
| Wynoochee River Near Grisdale | 214 cfs | → |
| Quinault River At Quinault Lake | 920 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Fork Dam.
Boat launches
- Failor Lake Road, Hoquiam
- State Route 109 1301-1399, Hoquiam
- 28th Street 702, Hoquiam
- 1st Street 901, Hoquiam
- C D Hanson Road, Humptulips
- Albatross Street Northeast 283-299, Ocean Shores
Campgrounds
- Ocean City State Park
- Promised Land Park - Rayonier Timber Co
- Westport Recreation Park - Military
- Pacific Beach State Park
- Pacific Beach Military
- Lake Sylvia State Park
Paddle runs
- Headwaters And Includes All Tributaries To Confluence With Quinault River
- Headwaters And Includes All Tributaries To Confluence With Graves Creek
- Headwaters And Includes All Tributaries Downstream From The End Of Graves Creek Road And Confluence With Graves Creek To Western Boundary Of Olympic National Park
- Headwaters To Southern Boundary Of Olympic National Park
- End Of North Fork Quinault Road To Confluence With The Main Branch Quinault River
Track West Fork 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 West Fork Dam
Where does the data for West Fork 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 Significant 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 West Fork Dam.