Ketchum dam
Ketchum
Located in Wasco, Oregon, the Ketchum dam stands as a testament to water resource management and recreation. Built in 1964, this private-owned earth dam serves as a recreational area with a primary purpose of providing leisure activities for visitors. With a height of 34.5 feet and a length of 620 feet, the dam boasts a normal storage capacity of 120 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 160 acre-feet.
Maintained by the Oregon Water Resources Department, the Ketchum dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite being classified as low hazard potential, the dam's condition remains unrated as of the last inspection in June 2019. Equipped with needle outlet gates, the dam demonstrates a commitment to effective water release management. With a drainage area of 0.43 square miles and a surface area of 14.2 acres, the Ketchum dam plays a vital role in water conservation and flood control efforts in the region.
Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and offering a serene escape for outdoor enthusiasts, the Ketchum dam serves as a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike. Its strategic location and recreational offerings make it a valuable asset for the local community, while its regulated maintenance ensures the safety and sustainability of its operations. As a symbol of responsible water management and conservation, the Ketchum dam stands as a beacon of environmental stewardship in the heart of Oregon's natural beauty.
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 Ketchum -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mosier Creek Near Mosier | 4 cfs | → |
| Hood River At Tucker Bridge | 389 cfs | → |
| Columbia River At The Dalles | 146,000 cfs | → |
| White Salmon River Near Underwood | 910 cfs | → |
| Klickitat River Near Pitt | 1,100 cfs | → |
| Bull Run River At Lower Flume Nr Brightwood | 24 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ketchum.
Boat launches
- Laurance Lake
- East Marina Way, Cook
- Old Highway 8 396-434, White Salmon
- Rowena Ferry Road 6539-6599, Mosier
- Old Ferry Road 455, Dallesport
- Kingsley Campground
Campgrounds
- Gibson Prairie Horse Camp
- Toll Bridge County Park
- Knebal Springs
- Knebal Springs Campground
- Lower Eightmile Crossing Campground
- Fivemile Butte Lookout
Paddle runs
- Confluence Clear And Coe Creeks To Mt. Hood Nf Boundary
- Hemlock Road Bridge To Gifford Pinchot Nf Boundary
- Lower Deschutes (Sherars Falls To Columbia River)
- Mt. Hood Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Sandy River
- Summit Creek To Mouth Of Little Klickitat
- Headwaters In Sw1/4 Of Sec 13, T6n, R7e To Hemlock Road Bridge In Nw1/4 Of Sec 26, T4n, R7e
Track Ketchum 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 Ketchum
Where does the data for Ketchum 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 Ketchum.