Rainier City Reservoir dam
Rainier City Reservoir
Rainier City Reservoir, located in Columbia County, Oregon, is a vital water supply infrastructure managed by the local government. Constructed in 1954, the reservoir stands at a height of 25 feet and has a storage capacity of 14 acre-feet. Situated along Fox Creek, the dam serves as a crucial resource for Rainier City and the surrounding community. With a hydraulic height of 22 feet and a maximum discharge of 0, the reservoir plays a key role in ensuring water security in the region.
Owned and regulated by the Oregon Water Resources Department, Rainier City Reservoir has a significant hazard potential and undergoes inspections every three years. The dam, designed by CLARK & GROFF, features a timber crib structure with needle outlet gates. Despite being in operation for several decades, the condition assessment of the dam is currently not rated. As a critical component of the water supply infrastructure in the area, the reservoir's upkeep and maintenance are essential to safeguarding against potential risks and ensuring the continuous availability of water resources for the community.
In the event of emergencies, the reservoir's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) status and risk assessment measures are not currently available. However, with its strategic location and essential role in water supply, Rainier City Reservoir remains a key asset for managing water resources in the region. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the infrastructure and management of such reservoirs is crucial for sustainable water management practices and resilience against climate impacts.
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 Rainier City Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia River @ Beaver Army Terminal Nr Quincy | 301,000 cfs | → |
| Cowlitz River At Castle Rock | 6,530 cfs | → |
| Toutle River At Tower Road Near Silver Lake | 1,360 cfs | → |
| Lewis River At Ariel | 2,820 cfs | → |
| South Fork Toutle River At Toutle | 868 cfs | → |
| Nehalem River Near Vernonia | 52 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rainier City Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Hendrickson Drive 333, Kalama
- Ocean Beach Highway 6105, Longview
- Dike Road Cowlitz County
- Clatskanie City Park
- Beaver Boat Ramp And Park
- South Pekin Road Cowlitz County
Campgrounds
- Hudson - Parcher County Park
- Louis Rasmussen Rv Park
- Camp Wilkerson
- Clatskanie City Park
- Big Eddy County Park
- County Line Park
Paddle runs
- Headwaters In Sw1/4 Sec 28, T9n, R5e To Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Boundary
- Nehalem River
- Nw1/4 Of Sec 9, T5n, R6e To Ne1/4 Of Sec 6, T5n, R5e
- Headwaters In Sw 1/4 Of Sec 8, T4n, R6e To Gifford Pinchot Nf Boundary
- Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Boundary To Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Boundary In Sw 1/4 Of Sec 32, T11n, R5e
- (Upper Muddy Segment) Headwaters In Se1/4 Of Sec 10, T8n, R5e To Conflence With Smith Creek
Track Rainier City Reservoir 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 Rainier City Reservoir
Where does the data for Rainier City Reservoir 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 Rainier City Reservoir.