Fall Creek Dam dam
Fall Creek Dam
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.
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 Fall Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Creek Blw Winberry Creek | 238 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Willamette River Near Dexter | 2,560 cfs | → |
| Winberry Creek Near Lowell | 22 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Willamette River At Jasper | 2,970 cfs | → |
| Mckenzie River Near Walterville | 2,710 cfs | → |
| Camp Crk At Camp Crk Rd Bridge | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fall Creek Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Willamette National Forest
- Cascara State Park
- Ivan Oakes Campground
- Dolly Varden Campground
- Dolly Varden
- Broken Bowl Campground
Fishing spots
Track Fall Creek Dam 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 Fall Creek Dam
Where does the data for Fall Creek Dam 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 Fall Creek Dam.