John Day Lock And Dam dam
John Day Lock And Dam
John Day Lock and Dam, also known as Lake Umatilla, is a federal-owned structure located in Sherman, Oregon, along the Columbia River. Completed in 1968, this earth dam serves multiple purposes, including flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, navigation, and recreation. With a height of 118 feet and a length of 5900 feet, the dam plays a vital role in managing water resources in the region, with a normal storage capacity of 530,000 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 2,250,000 cubic feet per second.
Despite its high hazard potential, a 2017 risk assessment classified John Day Lock and Dam's risk as low, highlighting the US Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) commitment to maintaining and monitoring the structure. Regular inspections, monitoring instruments, and emergency action plans are in place to ensure the dam's safety and readiness in case of an emergency. USACE continues to work with local agencies to improve community awareness of flood risks and the importance of the dam in managing water resources and reducing flood risks in the region. Overall, John Day Lock and Dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management and climate adaptation efforts in the face of potential flooding 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 John Day Lock And Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deschutes River At Moody | 3,800 cfs | → |
| John Day River At Mcdonald Ferry | 978 cfs | → |
| Columbia River At The Dalles | 146,000 cfs | → |
| Klickitat River Near Pitt | 1,100 cfs | → |
| Klickitat River Bl Summit Creek Near Glenwood | 1,100 cfs | → |
| Mosier Creek Near Mosier | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near John Day Lock And Dam.
Boat launches
- Philippi Park
- Rock Creek Road Klickitat County
- Heritage Landing
- Avery Park
- Rock Creek Recreation Site
- Cottonwood Park
Track John Day Lock And 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 John Day Lock And Dam
Where does the data for John Day Lock And 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 John Day Lock And Dam.