Cusick Polishing Lagoon dam
Cusick Polishing Lagoon
Cusick Polishing Lagoon, located in Pend Oreille, Washington, is a critical offstream water resource managed by the local government. Operated by the Washington Dept of Ecology, this lagoon serves as a crucial component in the region's water management infrastructure. Completed in 1978, the lagoon has a hydraulic height of 10 feet and a structural height of 10 feet, with a capacity of 65 acre-feet for water storage.
With a surface area of 6 acres and a drainage area of 0.01 square miles, Cusick Polishing Lagoon plays a significant role in water quality improvement and conservation efforts in the area. The lagoon is classified as having a significant hazard potential but is currently in fair condition, as assessed during the last inspection in August 2021. Regular inspections are conducted every 5 years to ensure the lagoon's safety and functionality.
The lagoon's primary purpose is categorized as 'Other,' indicating its versatile role in water resource management. As a key offstream structure along the Pend Oreille River, Cusick Polishing Lagoon stands as a testament to sustainable water management practices in the region. Its significance lies in its contribution to environmental protection, flood control, and water quality enhancement, making it a vital asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
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 Cusick Polishing Lagoon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pend Oreille River At Newport Wa | 46,700 cfs | → |
| Priest River Nr Priest River Id | 3,460 cfs | → |
| Priest R Outflow Nr Coolin | 2,820 cfs | → |
| Little Spokane River At Elk | 48 cfs | → |
| Pend Oreille River Below Box Canyon Near Ione | 47,100 cfs | → |
| Outlet Creek Near Metaline Falls | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cusick Polishing Lagoon.
Boat launches
- Pow Wow Park, Cusick
- Pondoray Shores Road, Newport
- Kaniksu Drive Pend Oreille County
- Viewpoint Road 61, Newport
- South Shore Diamond Lake Road 765-1255, Newport
- Old Diamond Mill Road 71, Oldtown
Campgrounds
- County Fair Campground
- Skookum Creek- State Forest
- South Skookum Campground
- South Skookum Lake Campground
- South Skookum Lake
- Browns Lake Campground
Paddle runs
- Forest Boundary, Sec. 34, T59n, R2w To Harrison Lake, Sec. 31, T62n, R2w
- Upper Priest River
- Segment 2 Flows For Almost 10 Miles From The Intersection With Trail 312 To Its Confluence With The Upper Priest River To Segment 2 Flows For Almost 10 Miles From The Intersection With Trail 312 To Its Confluence With The Upper Priest River
- Segment 1 Is Classified As Wild And Flows From Its Source For Almost Five Miles To The Intersection With Trail 312 To Segment 1 Is Classified As Wild And Flows From Its Source For Almost To The Intersection With Trail 312
- Ne1/4 Of Sec 13, T40n, R46e To Nw1/4 Of Sec 5, T40n, R46e
- Long Canyon Pass, Sec. 30, T63n, R2w To Forest Boundary, Road #417, Sec. 25, T63n, R2w
Track Cusick Polishing Lagoon 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 Cusick Polishing Lagoon
Where does the data for Cusick Polishing Lagoon 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 Cusick Polishing Lagoon.