Tall Timber Lake dam
Tall Timber Lake
Tall Timber Lake, nestled in the picturesque surroundings of Josephine County, Oregon, is a private irrigation reservoir that has been serving the local community since its completion in 1965. Situated along Salt Gulch Creek, this Earth dam structure stands at 28 feet high, with a storage capacity of 29 acre-feet and a surface area of 2.94 acres. With a primary purpose of irrigation, the reservoir plays a vital role in supporting agricultural activities in the region.
Managed by the Oregon Water Resources Department, Tall Timber Lake is regulated and inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and compliance with state guidelines. Despite its low hazard potential, the reservoir is subject to a six-year inspection frequency to maintain its functionality and safety standards. With a maximum discharge capacity of 90 cubic feet per second, the dam serves as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area, contributing to the sustainability of the local ecosystem and economy.
While the dam's condition assessment is currently marked as "Not Rated," ongoing monitoring and risk management measures are in place to safeguard against any potential hazards. As part of the Portland District, the reservoir falls under state jurisdiction and is an essential component of the regional water infrastructure. Water resource and climate enthusiasts visiting Tall Timber Lake can appreciate the intersection of human engineering and natural landscapes, highlighting the delicate balance between water management and environmental stewardship in this scenic corner of Oregon.
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 Tall Timber Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois River Near Kerby | 160 cfs | → |
| Sucker Cr Bl Lt Grayback Cr Nr Holland | 56 cfs | → |
| Applegate River Near Wilderville | 136 cfs | → |
| Rogue River At Grants Pass | 2,220 cfs | → |
| Applegate River Near Applegate | 137 cfs | → |
| Star Gulch Near Ruch | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tall Timber Lake.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Lake Selmac County Park
- Lake Selmac Resort
- Selmac Lake Park
- Little Falls Campground
- Josephine Creek Campground
- Josephine Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Cheney Creek
- Confluence With Lightening Gulch To Confluence With Josephine Creek
- Middle Of Sec 15, T39s, R4e To Confluence With Canyon Creek
- Headwaters To Middle Of Sec 15, T39s, R4e
- Miami Bar To Oak Flat
- Falls (Nw1/4 Of Sec 15, T36s, R9w) To Confluence With Silver Creek
Track Tall Timber Lake 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 Tall Timber Lake
Where does the data for Tall Timber Lake 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 Tall Timber Lake.