Blue River Dam dam
Blue River Dam
Blue River Dam, also known as Blue River Lake, is a federal-owned structure located in Lane County, Oregon. Completed in 1968 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, this earth dam stands at a height of 270 feet and serves primarily for flood risk reduction. With a storage capacity of 89,000 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 53,200 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water levels in the Blue River.
Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is equipped with a controlled spillway and regularly monitored by the US Army Corps of Engineers to address and manage flood risks. The agency collaborates with local emergency managers to develop emergency action plans, conduct risk assessments, and ensure the structural integrity of the dam. As climate change increases the unpredictability of severe weather events, the management of water resources at Blue River Dam becomes even more crucial to prevent potential issues and protect downstream communities.
In addition to flood risk reduction, Blue River Dam also supports irrigation, navigation, and recreational activities. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the role and management of dams like Blue River Dam is essential to ensuring the sustainable use of water resources in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Blue River Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blue River At Blue River | 478 cfs | → |
| Lookout Creek Near Blue River | 42 cfs | → |
| South Fork Mckenzie River Near Rainbow | 346 cfs | → |
| Mckenzie River Near Vida | 2,680 cfs | → |
| So Fk Mckenzie River Abv Cougar Lake Nr Rainbow Or | 367 cfs | → |
| Mckenzie River Blw Leaburg Dam | 2,900 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blue River Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Delta Campground
- Mona Campground
- Mckenzie Bridge Campground
- Cougar Dispersed Camping
- Horse Creek Group Campground
- Sunnyside Campground
Paddle runs
- Below Cougar Dam To Confluence With Mckenzie River
- Mckenzie River Seg A
- Three Sisters Wilderness Boundary To Cougar Reservoir
- South Fork Gate Creek
- North Fork Gate Creek
- Headwaters To Blue River Reservoir
More reservoirs
Track Blue River 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 Blue River Dam
Where does the data for Blue River 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 Blue River Dam.