Oregon End Dam

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Oregon End Dam, located in Harney County, Oregon, serves as a crucial irrigation structure on Rincon Creek. This private-owned earth dam, completed in 1955, stands at a height of 16 feet and has a storage capacity of 250 acre-feet. With a normal storage of 205 acre-feet and a drainage area of 8.4 square miles, the dam plays a vital role in supporting agricultural activities in the region.

Although considered to have a low hazard potential, Oregon End Dam is subject to state regulations and inspections by the Oregon Water Resources Department. The dam features a slide (sluice gate) as its outlet gates and an uncontrolled spillway type. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam's condition assessment remains unrated, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and safety.

With no downstream settlement to protect, Oregon End Dam stands as a testament to human ingenuity in harnessing water resources for irrigation purposes. As climate change continues to impact water availability and usage patterns, the maintenance and regulation of such dams become increasingly important in sustaining agricultural activities and ecological balance in the region.