Little Willow Creek Reservoir dam
Little Willow Creek Reservoir
Little Willow Creek Reservoir is a privately owned reservoir located in Maupin, Oregon, along the Little Willow Creek. Built in 1954, this earth dam stands at a height of 43 feet and has a storage capacity of 1140 acre-feet, primarily used for irrigation purposes. With a normal storage capacity of 96 acre-feet and a surface area of 57.8 acres, the reservoir serves as a vital water resource for the surrounding area.
Managed by the Oregon Water Resources Department, the reservoir has a low hazard potential and has not been rated in terms of its condition assessment. Despite being privately owned, the state agency regulates its operations and conducts inspections, ensuring its safety and compliance with state jurisdiction. The reservoir's maximum discharge capacity is 425 cfs, providing water security for the community and agricultural activities in the region.
Surrounded by the beautiful landscape of Jefferson County, Oregon, Little Willow Creek Reservoir offers a peaceful retreat and a glimpse into the intricate relationship between water resources and climate in the region. As climate enthusiasts observe the reservoir's role in irrigation and water management, they can appreciate the careful planning and maintenance that goes into sustaining this essential water source for the local community.
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 Little Willow Creek Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deschutes River Near Madras | 3,660 cfs | → |
| Shitike Creek Near Warm Springs | 66 cfs | → |
| Warm Springs River Near Kahneeta Hot Springs | 229 cfs | → |
| Crooked River Blw Osborne Canyon | 94 cfs | → |
| Crooked River Below Opal Springs | 1,260 cfs | → |
| Deschutes River Near Culver | 554 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Willow Creek Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Haystack Campground
- Haystack West
- Trout Creek Campground
- Pelton Park
- Warm Springs Boat Ramp (State Park)
- Warm Springs State Recreation Site
Campgrounds
- Trout Creek - Madras
- Madras City Park
- Jefferson County Fairgrounds Rv
- Haystack Lake
- Haystack Reservoir Campground And Day Use Area
- North Green Mountain Campground
Paddle runs
- Warm Springs To Sherars Falls
- Crooked River National Grassland Boundary To Confluence With Deschutes River
- Canyon Run (Lower Bridge To Billy Chinook Res.)
- Cline Falls State Park To Lower Bridge
- Source To Confluence With Metolius River
- Tumalo State Park To Cline Falls State Park
Track Little Willow Creek Reservoir 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 Little Willow Creek Reservoir
Where does the data for Little Willow Creek Reservoir 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 Little Willow Creek Reservoir.