Tarheel dam
Tarheel
Tarheel, located in Coos, Oregon, is a significant Earth dam constructed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1924, with a structural height of 16 feet and a length of 320 feet. This dam on Tarheel Creek serves as a vital water resource, providing a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet for the surrounding area. The dam's spillway, a controlled type, ensures proper water management and safety measures.
With a hazard potential rated as significant and a risk assessment indicating a very high risk level, Tarheel is closely monitored by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for any potential safety concerns. Although the condition assessment is currently not available, the dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures are crucial in mitigating potential risks. The dam's location and design make it a key feature in water resource management in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Tarheel offers a fascinating insight into the intersection of infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and risk management. With its historical significance and ongoing importance in water regulation and safety, Tarheel stands as a testament to the careful balance required in maintaining vital water resources while minimizing potential hazards. As climate change continues to impact water systems, the monitoring and management of dams like Tarheel are essential in ensuring the resilience and sustainability of water resources for future generations.
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 Tarheel -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Coquille River At Powers | 102 cfs | → |
| Little Wolf Creek Near Tyee | 3 cfs | → |
| Umpqua River Near Elkton | 1,710 cfs | → |
| North Umpqua River At Winchester | 1,250 cfs | → |
| South Umpqua River Near Brockway | 387 cfs | → |
| West Fork Cow Creek Near Glendale | 25 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tarheel.
Boat launches
- Holland Avenue, Coos Bay
- John Topits Upper Lake
- North Spit
- City Dock
- Eastside Boat Ramp
- California Street 400-444, North Bend
Campgrounds
- Bastendorff Campground
- #69 & 70
- Bluebill Campground
- Blue Ridge Trails Staging Area
- Rooke - Higgins County Park
- Sturdivant City Park
Paddle runs
- South Fork Coos River
- Eastern Siuslaw Nf Boundary To East Section Line Of Ne1/4se1/4 Of Sec 16, T21s, R10w
- East Section Line Of Ne1/4se1/4 Of Sec 16, T21s, R10w To Confluence With Smith River
- Sixes River
- South Fork Coquille River
- Coquille River Rna Boundary (Western) To Siskiyou Nf Boundary (North Section Line Sec 6, T32s, R11w
Track Tarheel 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 Tarheel
Where does the data for Tarheel 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 Significant 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 Tarheel.