Rock Lake dam
Rock Lake
Rock Lake, located in Haines, Oregon, is a privately owned irrigation reservoir completed in 1928. With a dam height of 28 feet and a storage capacity of 500 acre-feet, this Earth-type structure serves the primary purpose of irrigation in the area. The reservoir covers 23.7 acres and has a drainage area of 0.3 square miles, supporting agricultural activities in the region.
Managed by the Oregon Water Resources Department, Rock Lake is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated." Regular inspections are conducted every six years, with the last inspection taking place in September 2018. The reservoir's emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and management measures are not specified in the available data.
Rock Lake offers a vital water resource for irrigation in Baker County, Oregon, contributing to the agricultural productivity of the region. Enthusiasts interested in water management and climate resilience can appreciate the role of this dam in sustaining local farming operations. As climate change continues to impact water availability, the maintenance and oversight of structures like Rock Lake become increasingly important to ensure the sustainability of water resources in the area.
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 Rock Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| John Day R At Blue Mtn Hot Spgs Nr Prairie City | 34 cfs | → |
| John Day River Near John Day | 72 cfs | → |
| M Fk John Day R At Ritter | 86 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rock Lake.
Boat launches
- Southwest Shore Boat Launch
- Anthony Lakes Boat Launch
- Anthony Lake Campground
- Mason Ramp
- Grande Ronde Boat Launch
- Grande Ronde Lake Campground
Campgrounds
- Mccully Forks
- Mccully Forks Campground
- Peavy Cabin
- Union Creek
- Southwest Shore
- Southwest Shore Campground
Track Rock 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 Rock Lake
Where does the data for Rock 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 Rock Lake.