Crane Prairie dam
Crane Prairie
Crane Prairie is a federal-owned reservoir located in Deschutes, Oregon, with a primary purpose of irrigation. The dam, completed in 1939, stands at a height of 36 feet and has a storage capacity of 68,800 acre-feet. The reservoir covers an area of 4940 acres and is fed by the Deschutes River, with a maximum discharge capacity of 800 cubic feet per second.
The dam at Crane Prairie is classified as an earth dam with an arch core type and rock foundation, standing at a hydraulic height of 27 feet. In 1991, both hydraulic and structural modifications were made to the dam. The reservoir has a spillway width of 80 feet and is considered to have a high hazard potential. While the condition assessment is not available, the risk assessment for the dam is moderate.
Even though Crane Prairie primarily serves irrigation purposes, it is also a critical water resource for the region and plays a crucial role in managing water supply and flood control on the Deschutes River. The reservoir's location and design make it a vital asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in understanding the management and maintenance of dams in Oregon.
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 Crane Prairie -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| So Fk Mckenzie River Abv Cougar Lake Nr Rainbow Or | 309 cfs | → |
| M F Willamette R Ab Salt Cr. | 556 cfs | → |
| South Fork Mckenzie River Near Rainbow | 327 cfs | → |
| N.Umpqua R Abv White Mule Ck | 78 cfs | → |
| N.Umpqua R Blw Warm Springs Ck Nr Toketee Falls | 79 cfs | → |
| North Umpqua R Bl Lemolo Lk Nr T Falls | 87 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Crane Prairie.
Boat launches
- Browns Mountain
- North Twin Boating Site
- West South Twin Boating Site
- National Forest Development Road 4600-789 Deschutes County
- Cultus Lake Campground
- North Davis Boating Site
Campgrounds
- Spr
- Sheep Bridge Campground
- Sheep Bridge
- North Twin Lake Campground
- North Twin Lake
- Browns Creek Campground
Fishing spots
Track Crane Prairie 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 Crane Prairie
Where does the data for Crane Prairie 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 Crane Prairie.