Suttle dam
Suttle
Suttle is a federal-owned dam located in Jefferson County, Oregon, specifically in the city of Camp Sherman. Built in 1961, this concrete dam serves primarily as a Fish and Wildlife Pond, providing vital habitat for various species in the area. With a height of 6 feet and a storage capacity of 17,700 acre-feet, Suttle is a significant structure within the local ecosystem.
Managed by the USDA Forest Service, Suttle is classified as having a significant hazard potential, with a moderate risk assessment rating. Despite its age, the dam's condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated," indicating a need for further evaluation. The last inspection of Suttle was conducted in July 2017, with the dam being categorized as uncontrolled in terms of spillway type and outlet gates.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Suttle represents an important component of the region's hydrological infrastructure. As efforts to assess and manage the risks associated with aging dams like Suttle continue, monitoring and maintenance of this structure will be crucial in ensuring its long-term sustainability and safety for both the surrounding environment and nearby communities.
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 Suttle -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mckenzie River At Outlet Of Clear Lake | 282 cfs | → |
| Smith R Ab Smith R Res Nr Belknap Sprgs | 20 cfs | → |
| Mckenzie River Bl Payne Cr | 220 cfs | → |
| Smith River Abv Trail Brdg Resv Nr Belknap Springs | 7 cfs | → |
| Metolius River Near Grandview | 1,310 cfs | → |
| Mckenzie R Blw Trail Br Dam Nr Belknap Springs | 741 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Suttle.
Boat launches
- Blue Bay Campground
- Link Creek Campgound
- Link Creek Boating Site
- Big Lake Campground
- Lost Lake Campground
- Cold Water Cove Campground
Campgrounds
- Blue Bay Campground
- South Shore Campground
- Scout Lake Campground
- Link Creek Campground
- Camp Sherman Campground
- Camp Sherman
Paddle runs
- Source To Confluence With Metolius River
- Headwaters To Mt Jefferson Wilderness Boundary
- Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Boundary To Highway 22
- Crooked River National Grassland Boundary To Confluence With Deschutes River
- Canyon Run (Lower Bridge To Billy Chinook Res.)
- West Section Line Of Sec 31, T12s, R6e To Middle Santiam Wilderness Boundary
Track Suttle 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 Suttle
Where does the data for Suttle 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 Suttle.