Walton Lake Dam dam
Walton Lake Dam
Walton Lake Dam, also known as King Reservoir, is a federal-owned structure located in Prineville, Oregon. Built in 1955, this earth dam stands at a height of 34 feet and serves primarily for recreation purposes, including fish and wildlife pond activities. Managed by the Forest Service, the dam has a maximum storage capacity of 199 acre-feet with a spillway width of 20 feet.
The dam's significant hazard potential and moderate risk assessment highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance. While the structure has not been rated for its condition, it underwent a structural modification in 1964. With Camp Creek as the primary water source, the dam plays a crucial role in the local ecosystem and provides recreational opportunities for the community.
Despite its uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, Walton Lake Dam remains a key feature in the region, offering a serene escape for water resource and climate enthusiasts. As one of the Forest Service's managed structures, the dam's history and design contribute to the overall environmental landscape of Crook County, Oregon.
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 Walton Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge Cr Abv Coyote Canyon Nr Mitchell | 2 cfs | → |
| John Day River At Service Creek | 757 cfs | → |
| Pine Creek Near Clarno | 8 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 Walton Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Walton Lake
- Ochoco Reservoir County Park
- Priest Hole Recreation Site
- Priest Hole
- Lower Burnt Ranch Recreation Site
- Twickenham
Campgrounds
- Walton Lake Campground
- Walton Lake
- Walton Lake Group Campsites
- Wildwood
- Ochoco Divide Group Site
- Ochoco Divide
Paddle runs
- Cline Falls State Park To Lower Bridge
- Canyon Run (Lower Bridge To Billy Chinook Res.)
- Warm Springs To Sherars Falls
- Crooked River National Grassland Boundary To Confluence With Deschutes River
- Tumalo State Park To Cline Falls State Park
- Bend To Tumalo State Park (Riverhouse Run)
Track Walton Lake 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 Walton Lake Dam
Where does the data for Walton Lake 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 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 Walton Lake Dam.