Currant Creek dam
Currant Creek
Currant Creek, located in Wasco, Oregon, is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1984 primarily for irrigation purposes. The dam stands at a height of 82 feet, with a hydraulic height of 68 feet, and a length of 365 feet. It has a storage capacity of 1020 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 36.4 square miles. Despite its significant storage capacity, the dam is associated with a high hazard potential and has been assessed as being in poor condition as of October 2020.
The dam features a slide (sluice gate) outlet gate and has a maximum discharge capacity of 2000 cubic feet per second. Currant Creek Dam is subject to state regulation and inspection by the Oregon Water Resources Department, ensuring that it meets safety and operational standards. The last inspection took place in October 2020, with a scheduled inspection frequency of one year. The dam's location in the picturesque surroundings of Muddy Ranch along Currant Creek adds to its appeal for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the management and sustainability of water infrastructure.
While Currant Creek Dam serves as a vital irrigation source in the region, its high hazard potential and poor condition highlight the importance of ongoing maintenance and risk management measures. As a key feature in the water infrastructure of Wasco County, Oregon, the dam's significance extends beyond its primary purpose of irrigation to encompass broader considerations of water resource management and climate resilience. The dam's association with the Portland District and its state-regulated status underlines the interconnectedness of water resources and regulatory oversight in ensuring the safety and sustainability of critical infrastructure like Currant Creek Dam.
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 Currant Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pine Creek Near Clarno | 8 cfs | → |
| Bridge Cr Abv Coyote Canyon Nr Mitchell | 2 cfs | → |
| John Day River At Service Creek | 757 cfs | → |
| Warm Springs River Near Kahneeta Hot Springs | 229 cfs | → |
| Shitike Creek Near Warm Springs | 66 cfs | → |
| Deschutes River Near Madras | 3,660 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Currant Creek.
Boat launches
- Clarno Road Wheeler County
- Clarno Boat Ramp
- Lower Burnt Ranch Recreation Site
- Priest Hole
- Priest Hole Recreation Site
- Twickenham
Paddle runs
- Warm Springs To Sherars Falls
- Lower Deschutes (Sherars Falls To Columbia River)
- Crooked River National Grassland Boundary To Confluence With Deschutes River
- Canyon Run (Lower Bridge To Billy Chinook Res.)
- Cline Falls State Park To Lower Bridge
- North Fork John Day River
Track Currant Creek 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 Currant Creek
Where does the data for Currant Creek 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 Currant Creek.