Sawmill Gulch Reservoir dam
Sawmill Gulch Reservoir
Sawmill Gulch Reservoir, also known as Gover Reservoir, is a privately owned water infrastructure located in Baker, Oregon. Built in 1916, this Earth-type dam serves primarily for irrigation purposes, with a storage capacity of 177 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 150 acre-feet. The reservoir covers a surface area of 13.6 acres and is fed by the Saw Mill Gulch river or stream.
Situated in a low hazard potential area with a moderate risk assessment rating, Sawmill Gulch Reservoir is regulated by the Oregon Water Resources Department. The dam stands at a height of 30 feet and has a spillway type classified as uncontrolled. The outlet gates are equipped with a slide (sluice gate) mechanism, and the dam structure has not been rated for condition assessment.
Although last inspected in 2015 with a scheduled inspection frequency of 6 years, the reservoir's emergency action plan status and risk management measures are currently unspecified. With its historical significance dating back over a century, Sawmill Gulch Reservoir remains a crucial water resource for irrigation in the region, reflecting the intersection of engineering ingenuity, environmental stewardship, and climate resilience.
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 Sawmill Gulch Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Weiser River Nr Cambridge Id | 420 cfs | → |
| Snake River At Hells Canyon Dam Id-Or State Line | 19,200 cfs | → |
| Snake River At Weiser Id | 13,100 cfs | → |
| Crane Creek At Mouth Nr Weiser Id | 2 cfs | → |
| Weiser River Nr Weiser Id | 743 cfs | → |
| Minam River Near Minam | 732 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sawmill Gulch Reservoir.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- Eagle Cap Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Eagle Crek
- Headwaters To Eagle Cap Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters To Confluence With Van Patten Creek
- Hells Canyon (Hells Canyon Dam To Pittsburg Landing)
- Headwaters (Just North Of Confluence Of Mf Five Points Creek) To Wallowa-Whitman Nf Boundary
Track Sawmill Gulch Reservoir 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 Sawmill Gulch Reservoir
Where does the data for Sawmill Gulch Reservoir 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 Low 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 Sawmill Gulch Reservoir.