Lookout Point Dam dam
Lookout Point Dam
Lookout Point Dam, located on the Middle Fork-Willamette River in Lane, Oregon, was completed in 1953 by the US Army Corps of Engineers for flood risk reduction and other purposes such as hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, navigation, and recreation. The dam, with a height of 276 feet and a length of 3,175 feet, has a storage capacity of 477,700 acre-feet and serves a drainage area of 991 square miles. Despite being well-built and maintained, a recent risk assessment identified a moderate risk associated with the dam due to the potential impact of extreme events like earthquakes or heavy rainfall, which could lead to flooding downstream affecting urban and rural communities.
To reduce the risk to acceptable levels, the US Army Corps of Engineers has implemented interim risk reduction measures, such as reducing the maximum conservation pool of the reservoir and conducting a modification study to address potential vulnerabilities in the spillway gates. Routine inspections, instrumentation for monitoring dam performance, and post-earthquake procedures are in place to ensure the dam's safety. Additionally, the Emergency Action Plan for Lookout Point Dam has been updated based on the latest risk assessment results, and outreach efforts have been intensified to raise awareness among the local community about flood risks and emergency response procedures. The ongoing efforts aim to enhance the resilience of the dam and safeguard downstream populations in case of extreme events.
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 Lookout Point Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Creek Blw Winberry Creek | 238 cfs | → |
| Winberry Creek Near Lowell | 22 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Willamette River Near Dexter | 2,560 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Willamette River At Jasper | 2,970 cfs | → |
| Mckenzie River Near Walterville | 2,710 cfs | → |
| Coast Fork Willamette River Near Goshen | 333 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lookout Point Dam.
Boat launches
- North Shore Boat Ramp
- Lowell Park
- Dexter State Park
- Signal Point
- National Forest Development Road 5821 Westfir
- Pengra Access
Campgrounds
- Willamette National Forest
- Ivan Oakes Campground
- Cascara State Park
- Winberry
- Dolly Varden Campground
- Dolly Varden
Fishing spots
Track Lookout Point 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 Lookout Point Dam
Where does the data for Lookout Point 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 Lookout Point Dam.