Murphy Dam dam
Murphy Dam
Murphy Dam, located in Juntura, Oregon, stands as a vital piece of infrastructure for irrigation purposes along Bendire Creek. Constructed in 1950, this earth dam reaches a height of 60 feet and a length of 400 feet, providing a storage capacity of 1203 acre-feet. The dam's low hazard potential and not rated condition assessment underscore its reliability in safeguarding water resources for the surrounding area.
Managed by a private entity, Murphy Dam falls under the regulatory oversight of the Oregon Water Resources Department, ensuring compliance with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements. With a maximum discharge capacity of 760 cubic feet per second, the dam serves as a crucial tool in managing water flow and maximizing irrigation efficiency for agricultural activities in Malheur County. Despite its modest size, Murphy Dam plays a significant role in water resource management within the region.
With its strategic location and historical significance in the local water infrastructure, Murphy Dam remains a cornerstone in water resource management in Eastern Oregon. The dam's efficient design and stable condition reflect its importance in supporting agricultural activities and sustaining water supply for the community. As climate change continues to impact water availability, Murphy Dam stands as a reliable asset in ensuring water security for the region's agricultural industry and ecosystem health.
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 Murphy Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Malheur River At Beulah Or | 1 cfs | → |
| Malheur R Be Warmsprings Res Nr Riverside Or | 0 cfs | → |
| John Day R At Blue Mtn Hot Spgs Nr Prairie City | 32 cfs | → |
| Malheur River Below Nevada Dam Near Vale Or | 23 cfs | → |
| Owyhee River Below Owyhee Dam Or | 158 cfs | → |
| John Day River Near John Day | 68 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Murphy Dam.
Boat launches
- Beulah Reservoir Ramp
- North Warm Springs
- North Point Boat Launch 1
- North Point Boat Launch 2
- Warm Springs Reservoir South Boat Ramp
- Middle Warm Springs
Campgrounds
- Chukar Park
- Crane Crossing
- Crane Creek Campground
- North Fork Malheur Campground
- North Fork Malheur
- Little Crane
Track Murphy 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 Murphy Dam
Where does the data for Murphy 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 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 Murphy Dam.