Cascade Lake Dam

About Cascade Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Cascade Lake Dam is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Orcas Water Holdings Llc (private). It impounds the Tr-cascade Bay near Rosario.

The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 127 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 170 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,670 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1915, the structure is over a century old.

This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/06/2023.

Living Downstream

If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Washington dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.

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