Joe Fisher dam
Joe Fisher
Joe Fisher is a private dam located in Maupin, Oregon, on Lytle Creek. It was completed in 1953 for the primary purpose of irrigation, with a height of 51 feet and a structural height of 54 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 700 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 508 acre-feet and a surface area of 35.16 acres. Despite being regulated and inspected by the Oregon Water Resources Department, Joe Fisher has a high hazard potential, but its condition was assessed as satisfactory during the last inspection in October 2020.
Situated in Crook County, Oregon, Joe Fisher dam is under the jurisdiction of the state and maintains a spillway type of 'Uncontrolled' with slide (sluice gate) outlet gates. The dam has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3 and is part of the Portland District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. With a drainage area of 5.7 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 669 cubic feet per second, Joe Fisher plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities in the region by providing water for irrigation purposes.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Joe Fisher represents a significant piece of infrastructure in the Oregon landscape, serving as a vital water management system for the local community. With its historical significance dating back to the 1950s, the dam continues to play a crucial role in water storage and distribution, ensuring the sustainability of agricultural practices in the area. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's satisfactory condition and regular inspection demonstrate a commitment to ensuring the safety and integrity of the structure for both present and future generations.
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 Joe Fisher -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Crooked River Blw Osborne Canyon | 94 cfs | → |
| Crooked River Below Opal Springs | 1,260 cfs | → |
| Deschutes River Near Culver | 554 cfs | → |
| Deschutes River Near Madras | 3,660 cfs | → |
| Shitike Creek Near Warm Springs | 66 cfs | → |
| Metolius River Near Grandview | 1,280 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Joe Fisher.
Boat launches
- Ochoco Reservoir County Park
- Haystack Campground
- Haystack West
- County Ramp
- Cove Palisades Marina
- Prineville Reservoir State Park
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- Canyon Run (Lower Bridge To Billy Chinook Res.)
- Cline Falls State Park To Lower Bridge
- Crooked River National Grassland Boundary To Confluence With Deschutes River
- Warm Springs To Sherars Falls
- Tumalo State Park To Cline Falls State Park
- Bend To Tumalo State Park (Riverhouse Run)
Track Joe Fisher 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 Joe Fisher
Where does the data for Joe Fisher 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 High 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 Joe Fisher.