Mercer dam
Mercer
Mercer is a vital water supply dam located in Dallas, Oregon, along the Rickreall Creek. Completed in 1961, this earth dam stands at 81 feet high and spans 460 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 1550 acre-feet. Despite its critical role in providing water to the region, Mercer has been flagged for its high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, requiring frequent inspections due to safety concerns.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Oregon Water Resources Department, Mercer serves as a key source of water for the community. With a maximum discharge capacity of 8700 cubic feet per second and a drainage area of 17.8 square miles, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. However, its deteriorating condition and high hazard potential highlight the need for ongoing maintenance and risk management measures to ensure the safety and reliability of the dam.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the importance of maintaining and upgrading dams like Mercer becomes increasingly crucial. With its strategic location in Polk County, Oregon, Mercer serves as a reminder of the intricate balance between water supply management and climate resilience. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to monitor and support initiatives that promote sustainable water management practices and strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure like Mercer for the benefit of 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 Mercer -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Luckiamute River Near Suver | 223 cfs | → |
| Willamette River At Salem | 11,000 cfs | → |
| Siletz River At Siletz | 368 cfs | → |
| South Yamhill River At Mcminnville | 351 cfs | → |
| Willamette River At Albany | 7,200 cfs | → |
| Willamette River At Corvallis | 6,640 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mercer.
Boat launches
- Riverview Park
- Buena Vista County Park
- Moonshine Park
- Riverfront Park
- Keizer Rapids
- Twin Bridges Memorial Park
Campgrounds
- Hiker/Biker Camp
- Beaver Island Group Camp
- South Lake
- Chinook Bend Rv Resort
- South Lake Dispersed Area
- South Lake Dispersed Camping
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Mercer 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 Mercer
Where does the data for Mercer 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 Mercer.