Ford Farms Reservoir dam
Ford Farms Reservoir
Ford Farms Reservoir, also known as Ford Dam, is a privately owned water resource located in Lane, Oregon. Built in 1959, this Earth-type dam on Coyote Creek serves primarily for irrigation purposes, providing a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet. With a significant hazard potential and a structural height of 25 feet, the reservoir covers a surface area of 13.75 acres and has a drainage area of 1.8 square miles.
Managed by the Oregon Water Resources Department, Ford Farms Reservoir is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam stands at 22 feet high with a hydraulic height of 19 feet, ensuring a normal storage capacity of 60 acre-feet. It is situated in the city of Cheshire, approximately 16 miles away from its nearest point of interest. The dam's last inspection was conducted in February 2020, with an inspection frequency of every 3 years.
Despite not being rated for its condition assessment, Ford Farms Reservoir remains a crucial component of the local irrigation infrastructure in Lane County. With its historical significance dating back to the late 1950s, the dam continues to play a vital role in water resource management and agricultural sustainability in the region. Its association with Coyote Creek and the Portland District underscores its importance in supporting the surrounding ecosystem and contributing to the overall water security of 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 Ford Farms Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Long Tom River Near Noti | 58 cfs | → |
| Long Tom River Near Alvadore | 88 cfs | → |
| Mckenzie River Near Coburg | 2,850 cfs | → |
| Coast Fork Willamette River Near Goshen | 333 cfs | → |
| Mckenzie River Abv Hayden Br | 2,730 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River Near Springfield | 128 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ford Farms Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Fern Ridge Shores Rv Park
- Alton Baker Park
- Whitely Landing
- Island Park
- Christensen's Landing
- Brown's Landing State Park
Campgrounds
- Richardson Park
- Homeless Camp
- Armitage Park Campground
- Clay Creek
- Clay Creek Recreation Site
- Whittaker Creek
Paddle runs
- Clay Creek Campground To Siuslaw Falls
- Siuslaw River Seg B
- Siuslaw Falls To Confluence Of North And South Forks
- Confluence Of North And South Forks To Headwaters Of North Fork
- Wildcat Creek Launch Site To Clay Creek Campground
- Confluence Of North And South Forks To Headwaters Of South Fork
Track Ford Farms 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 Ford Farms Reservoir
Where does the data for Ford Farms 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 Significant 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 Ford Farms Reservoir.