Dorena Dam dam
Dorena Dam
Dorena Dam, located in Cottage Grove, Oregon, is a key structure managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers to reduce flood risks in the region. Built in 1949, this earth dam stands at 135 feet high and spans 3,302 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 131,000 acre-feet of water from the Row River. Serving multiple purposes such as flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, navigation, and recreation, Dorena Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area.
Despite its age, Dorena Dam has been deemed to have low risk by a routine assessment conducted in 2012, with no immediate modifications required. However, the US Army Corps of Engineers continues to monitor and assess the dam's condition through routine inspections and risk assessments, with the next assessment scheduled for spring 2022. The dam is equipped with monitoring instrumentation and emergency action plans in place to address any potential risks, and ongoing community outreach efforts aim to improve awareness of flood risks and the dam's role in mitigating them. Overall, Dorena Dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management and flood risk reduction in the Willamette Valley, ensuring the safety and well-being of downstream communities.
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 Dorena Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Row River Near Cottage Grove | 186 cfs | → |
| Row River Above Pitcher Creek Near | 120 cfs | → |
| Coast Fork Willamette R Blw Cottage Grove Dam | 76 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Willamette River Near Dexter | 2,560 cfs | → |
| Coast Fork Willamette River Near Goshen | 333 cfs | → |
| Fall Creek Blw Winberry Creek | 238 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dorena Dam.
Boat launches
- Harms Park Row River Trail Access
- Lynx Hollow State Park
- Lakeside Park
- Dexter State Park
- Lowell Park
- Pengra Access
Campgrounds
- Schwarz
- Baker Bay Park
- Pine Meadows- Cottage Grove Lake
- Primitive - Cottage Grove Lake
- Sharps Creek Campground
- Sharps Creek
Track Dorena 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 Dorena Dam
Where does the data for Dorena 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 Dorena Dam.