Kinney Lake dam
Kinney Lake
Kinney Lake, also known as Mountain Sheep Dam, is a captivating water resource in Wallowa, Oregon, owned and regulated by the local government. This Earth-type dam, completed in 1913, stands at a height of 22 feet and serves primarily for irrigation purposes. With a storage capacity of 315 acre-feet and a surface area of 28.8 acres, Kinney Lake plays a crucial role in water management in the region.
Situated along the Mountain Sheep Ditch, this dam boasts a low hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition assessment. Despite its age, Kinney Lake remains a vital infrastructure for water supply, with a maximum discharge capacity of 15 cubic feet per second. The dam is equipped with a slide gate outlet and undergoes inspections every 6 years to ensure its structural integrity and operational effectiveness.
While Kinney Lake may not be as well-known as other water resources, its significance in regional irrigation and water management cannot be understated. The dam's historical importance, coupled with its modern-day functionality, makes it a fascinating site for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore and appreciate.
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 Kinney Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Snake River At Hells Canyon Dam Id-Or State Line | 19,200 cfs | → |
| Imnaha River At Imnaha | 150 cfs | → |
| Minam River Near Minam | 818 cfs | → |
| Little Salmon River At Riggins Id | 1,950 cfs | → |
| Grande Ronde River At Troy | 2,170 cfs | → |
| Salmon River At White Bird Id | 23,300 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kinney Lake.
Boat launches
- Wallowa Lake County Park
- Wallowa Lake State Park
- Fish Lake Campground
- Hells Canyon Creek Recreation Site
- Allison Creek Trail Adams County
- Copper Creek Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Wallowa Lake State Park
- Hurricane Creek
- Hurricane Creek Campground
- Lick Creek Campground
- Lick Creek
- Campsites
Track Kinney Lake 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 Kinney Lake
Where does the data for Kinney Lake 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 Low 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 Kinney Lake.