Johnson Pond Dam dam
Johnson Pond Dam
Johnson Pond Dam, located in King County, Washington, is a local government-owned structure designed by the King County WLRD. This offstream dam on Rutherford Creek serves the primary purpose of recreation while also providing flood risk reduction. Completed in 2011, the earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 15 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 25 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 19.5 acre-feet. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2016 deemed it satisfactory, with regular inspections every five years.
The dam, with a surface area of 2.6 acres and a drainage area of 0.14 square miles, has a maximum discharge capacity of 10 cubic feet per second. It underwent hydraulic modifications in 2012 to enhance its operational efficiency. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in 2019, ensuring preparedness in case of any unforeseen events. With its location in a recreational area and its crucial role in flood risk reduction, Johnson Pond Dam stands as a vital water resource structure in the region, regulated by the Washington Department of Ecology.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Johnson Pond Dam presents a fascinating case study of a multi-purpose dam that balances recreational benefits with flood risk reduction efforts. Its satisfactory condition assessment and regular inspections reflect a commitment to safety and operational efficiency. As climate change impacts water resources, structures like Johnson Pond Dam play a crucial role in managing water flow and protecting communities from potential flooding events. The dam's design, construction, and ongoing maintenance highlight the intricate balance between human-made infrastructure and natural water systems in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Johnson Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Snoqualmie River Near Carnation | 1,440 cfs | → |
| Mercer Creek Near Bellevue | 12 cfs | → |
| Issaquah Creek Near Mouth Near Issaquah | 43 cfs | → |
| Raging River Near Fall City | 33 cfs | → |
| Tolt River Near Carnation | 279 cfs | → |
| Thornton Creek Near Seattle | 41 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Johnson Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- West Lake Sammamish Parkway Northeast Redmond
- Sammamish River Trail Redmond
- Northeast Tolt Hill Road 30348-30762, Carnation
- Lake Marcel Community Park
- Lake Langlois Road Northeast King County
- I 90 Trail Bellevue
Paddle runs
- Snoqualmie Falls To Plum's Landing
- Wagner Bridge To Confluence With Middle Fork Snoqualmie River
- Confluence With Taylor River To Confluence With North Fork Snoqualmie River
- Confluence Of Tye And Foss Rivers To Gold Bar
- Confluence With Troublesome Creek To Confluence With South Fork Skykomish River
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary To Quartz Creek Road
Track Johnson Pond 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 Johnson Pond Dam
Where does the data for Johnson Pond 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 Johnson Pond Dam.