Wheaton Creek Reservoir dam
Wheaton Creek Reservoir
Wheaton Creek Reservoir, located in Malheur, Oregon, is a privately owned irrigation dam built in 1948 on Wheaton Creek. With a dam height of 12 feet and a hydraulic height of 10 feet, this earth-type dam provides essential water storage for irrigation purposes in the region. The reservoir has a maximum storage capacity of 82 acre-feet and a surface area of 68 acres, serving a drainage area of 4.4 square miles.
Managed by the Oregon Water Resources Department, Wheaton Creek Reservoir has a low hazard potential and is inspected every six years to ensure its structural integrity. The reservoir plays a crucial role in the local water resource management, providing a reliable water source for agricultural activities. Despite its age, Wheaton Creek Reservoir continues to serve its primary purpose effectively and contributes to the sustainable utilization of water resources in the area.
As an integral part of the irrigation infrastructure in the region, Wheaton Creek Reservoir is a key component in supporting agricultural activities in Westfall, Oregon. With its consistent storage capacity and reliable water supply, the reservoir plays a vital role in ensuring the availability of water for irrigation, contributing to the resilience of the local farming community. As climate change impacts water resources, the management and maintenance of reservoirs like Wheaton Creek become increasingly important in safeguarding water security for 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 Wheaton Creek Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Malheur River At Beulah Or | 1 cfs | → |
| Malheur River Below Nevada Dam Near Vale Or | 23 cfs | → |
| John Day R At Blue Mtn Hot Spgs Nr Prairie City | 32 cfs | → |
| Malheur R Be Warmsprings Res Nr Riverside Or | 0 cfs | → |
| Snake River At Weiser Id | 13,100 cfs | → |
| Owyhee River Below Owyhee Dam Or | 158 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wheaton Creek Reservoir.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Eldorado
- Crane Crossing
- Crane Creek Campground
- Bully Creek Reservoir County Park
- North Fork Malheur Campground
- North Fork Malheur
Track Wheaton 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 Wheaton Creek Reservoir
Where does the data for Wheaton 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 Wheaton Creek Reservoir.