Cougar Dam dam
Cougar Dam
Cougar Dam, located on the South Fork McKenzie River in Oregon, was completed in 1963 by the US Army Corps of Engineers for flood risk reduction. This rockfill dam stands at 473 feet tall and has a storage capacity of 220,000 acre-feet. However, a recent risk assessment has identified the dam's hazard potential as high, particularly in the event of an extreme earthquake that could lead to overtopping and potential failure.
To address this risk, the USACE is conducting advanced risk assessments and evaluating seismic performance to determine necessary risk reduction measures. Routine inspections, instrumentation for monitoring dam performance and seismic activity, and emergency response plans are all in place to mitigate potential impacts. With the large downstream population at risk, ongoing efforts to increase community awareness and preparedness for potential flooding events are crucial for ensuring the safety of residents in Eugene, Springfield, and surrounding areas.
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 Cougar Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Mckenzie River Near Rainbow | 346 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Blue River | 478 cfs | → |
| So Fk Mckenzie River Abv Cougar Lake Nr Rainbow Or | 367 cfs | → |
| Lookout Creek Near Blue River | 42 cfs | → |
| Mckenzie River Near Vida | 2,680 cfs | → |
| Mckenzie R Blw Trail Br Dam Nr Belknap Springs | 831 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cougar Dam.
Boat launches
- Echo Picnic Area And Boat Launch
- Brukart Landing
- Hamlin Park
- Slide Creek Campground
- Mckenzie Bridge Campground
- Mona Campground
Campgrounds
- Delta Campground
- Cougar Dispersed Camping
- Mckenzie Bridge Campground
- Sunnyside Campground
- Cougar Crossing Campground
- Horse Creek Group Campground
Paddle runs
- Below Cougar Dam To Confluence With Mckenzie River
- Three Sisters Wilderness Boundary To Cougar Reservoir
- Mckenzie River Seg A
- Headwaters To Blue River Reservoir
- South Fork Gate Creek
- Headwaters To Three Sisters Wilderness Boundary
More reservoirs
Track Cougar 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 Cougar Dam
Where does the data for Cougar 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 Cougar Dam.