Fall Creek Dam, also known as Fall Creek Lake, is a rockfill dam located in Eugene, Oregon, owned and managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Completed in 1965, the dam stands at 205 feet high and serves primarily for flood risk reduction, with a storage capacity of 125,000 acre-feet and a surface area of 1,860 acres. However, a routine risk assessment conducted in 2014 characterized the risk associated with the dam as high, particularly due to the potential impacts of extreme seismic events or flooding on the downstream population.
To address these risks, Fall Creek Dam will undergo an Issues Evaluation Study (IES) starting in 2021 to assess its performance during extreme seismic and flood events. This study will determine if short-term targeted measures or long-term modifications are necessary to reduce the risk. USACE regularly conducts inspections and monitors dam performance, with post-earthquake procedures in place to evaluate damages. The Emergency Action Plan (EAP) outlines actions to be taken during an emergency, with ongoing outreach efforts to improve community awareness of flood risks and dam-related risks. Despite the risks, USACE is confident in the dam's construction and maintenance to significantly reduce flood risks in the region, although the potential for flooding downstream remains a concern during extreme rainfall and snowmelt events.