Buether Upper Reservoir dam
Buether Upper Reservoir
Buether Upper Reservoir, also known as Buether Dam #1 or Old Buether Dam, is a privately owned water resource located in Sherman County, Oregon. Built in 1955 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, this earth dam stands at a height of 36 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 60 acre-feet, primarily used for irrigation purposes along the Cottonwood Canyon river or stream. The reservoir covers a surface area of 8.1 acres and has a normal storage capacity of 45 acre-feet, serving as a critical water source for the surrounding agricultural community.
With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, Buether Upper Reservoir is regulated and inspected by the Oregon Water Resources Department to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and a slide gate outlet for water release, with a maximum discharge capacity of 904 cubic feet per second. Although the condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated," the reservoir undergoes inspections every six years to assess any potential risks and implement necessary risk management measures. Overall, Buether Upper Reservoir plays a vital role in supporting irrigation activities in the region while maintaining a focus on safety and risk mitigation strategies.
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 Buether Upper Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deschutes River At Moody | 3,800 cfs | → |
| Columbia River At The Dalles | 190,000 cfs | → |
| John Day River At Mcdonald Ferry | 865 cfs | → |
| Pine Creek Near Clarno | 8 cfs | → |
| Warm Springs River Near Kahneeta Hot Springs | 229 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek | 34 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Buether Upper Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Beavertail Campground
- Mack's Canyon Non-Motorized Launch
- Oscar Lange Launch
- Buckhollow Recreation Site
- Pine Tree Recreation Site
- Pine Tree
Campgrounds
- Jones Canyon Campground
- Rattlesnake Canyon Campground
- Beavertail
- Beavertail Campground
- Macks Canyon
- D23.66r
Track Buether Upper 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 Buether Upper Reservoir
Where does the data for Buether Upper 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 Buether Upper Reservoir.