Van Raden dam
Van Raden
Van Raden is a private dam located in Multnomah County, Oregon, specifically in the city of ORENCO. Built in 1975, this Earth dam stands at 27 feet tall and spans 320 feet in length, with a primary purpose of irrigation. It is regulated by the Oregon Water Resources Department and has a high hazard potential, although its condition was assessed as fair during the last inspection in September 2020.
Situated on Rock Creek, Van Raden has a maximum storage capacity of 115 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 96 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 2.5 square miles. The dam features a slide (sluice gate) outlet gate and an uncontrolled spillway type. While it has not been modified in recent years, the dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 750 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam is maintained and inspected regularly to ensure its continued safe operation for irrigation purposes.
Overall, Van Raden serves as a vital water resource infrastructure in Oregon, providing essential irrigation water for the surrounding area. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to monitor and manage dams like Van Raden to ensure their structural integrity and safety, especially in the face of changing climate conditions and increasing water demands. By staying informed about the condition and management of such dams, we can work towards sustainable water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
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 Van Raden -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia Slough At Portland | 580 cfs | → |
| East Fork Dairy Creek Near Meacham Corner | 21 cfs | → |
| Burnt Bridge Creek Near Mouth At Vancouver | 37 cfs | → |
| Fanno Creek At 56th Ave | 0 cfs | → |
| Willamette River At Portland | 17,500 cfs | → |
| Tualatin River Near Dilley | 96 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Van Raden.
Boat launches
- Sauvie Island Boat Ramp
- Happy Rock Moorage Inc.
- Big Oak Marina
- Haldman Pond Hand Launch
- Columbia Slough
- Sauvie Island Wildlife Area
Campgrounds
- Brooke Creek Hike-In Camp
- L. L. Stub Stewart State Park
- Scaponia County Park
- Paradise Point State Park
- Camp R&R
- Vernonia Lake Primative Campground
Track Van Raden 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 Van Raden
Where does the data for Van Raden 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 Van Raden.