Schweitzer Dam And Reservoir dam
Schweitzer Dam And Reservoir
Schweitzer Dam and Reservoir, located in Okanogan, Washington, was completed in 1914 and serves as a vital water resource for irrigation purposes in the region. The dam stands at a hydraulic height of 17.66 feet and has a structural height of 15.26 feet, with a capacity to store up to 74 acre-feet of water. The reservoir is fed by a tributary of Aeneas Creek and covers a drainage area of 4.94 square miles.
Despite its historical significance, Schweitzer Dam and Reservoir faces challenges in terms of its condition assessment and hazard potential. The dam has been rated as having a poor condition, with a high hazard potential, highlighting the need for regular inspections and maintenance. The last inspection was conducted in July 2018, and the dam is subject to state regulation and enforcement by the Washington Dept of Ecology.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Schweitzer Dam and Reservoir represents a fascinating intersection of historical engineering, environmental stewardship, and the critical role of water management in sustaining agricultural activities. As efforts continue to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam, its importance in providing irrigation water to the surrounding area underscores the importance of responsible water resource management in the face of changing climate 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 Schweitzer Dam And Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Okanogan River Near Tonasket | 4,560 cfs | → |
| Okanogan River At Oroville | 225 cfs | → |
| Similkameen River Near Nighthawk | 4,360 cfs | → |
| Omak Creek Near Omak | 3 cfs | → |
| Okanogan River At Malott | 4,570 cfs | → |
| Andrews Creek Near Mazama | 86 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Schweitzer Dam And Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Windy Flat Road Okanogan County
- South Fish Lake Road, Okanogan
- Loomis-Oroville Road 322, Tonasket
- Sinlahekin Road Okanogan County
- Sinlahekin Road, Okanogan
Campgrounds
- Aeneas Lake - Wdfw
- Sinlahekin Wildlife Area
- Blue Lake North - Wdfw
- Blue Lake South - Wdfw
- Sinlahekin Creek - Wdfw
- Forde Lake - Wdfw
Track Schweitzer Dam And Reservoir 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 Schweitzer Dam And Reservoir
Where does the data for Schweitzer Dam And Reservoir 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 Schweitzer Dam And Reservoir.