Willow Reservoir dam
Willow Reservoir
Willow Reservoir in Harney, Oregon, is a Federal-owned Earth dam that serves as a Fish and Wildlife Pond on Skull Creek. With a height of 21 feet and a storage capacity of 80.8 acre-feet, this reservoir covers an area of 12.2 acres and has a drainage area of 0.9 square miles. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and not yet rated for its condition, Willow Reservoir plays a crucial role in supporting the local ecosystem and providing habitat for fish and wildlife in the region.
Managed by the Oregon Water Resources Department, Willow Reservoir is equipped with necessary state regulatory oversight, including permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with relevant regulations. Although lacking detailed information on its construction year and recent maintenance activities, the reservoir continues to fulfill its primary purpose effectively. Its location within the scenic landscape of Harney County and its association with the Portland and Walla Walla Districts further underline its significance as a valuable water resource in the area.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts visiting Willow Reservoir can appreciate the efforts put into maintaining this vital habitat for fish and wildlife. While the reservoir's risk assessment and emergency preparedness aspects are not fully documented, its importance as a conservation area and recreational spot cannot be understated. As climate change continues to impact water resources, understanding and preserving such reservoirs becomes increasingly crucial for sustainable ecosystem management and resilience against changing environmental conditions.
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 Willow Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| John Day River Near John Day | 68 cfs | → |
| John Day R At Blue Mtn Hot Spgs Nr Prairie City | 32 cfs | → |
| Malheur R Be Warmsprings Res Nr Riverside Or | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Willow Reservoir.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Yellowjacket
- Emigrant
- Emigrant Campground
- Joaquin Miller Horse Camp
- Pendleton Springs Camp
- Delintment Lake
Paddle runs
Track Willow 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 Willow Reservoir
Where does the data for Willow 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 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 Willow Reservoir.