Barnes Butte dam
Barnes Butte
Barnes Butte, located in Crook County, Oregon, is a significant earth dam built in 1956 primarily for irrigation purposes. The dam stands at a height of 28 feet, with a hydraulic height of 26 feet and a structural height of 32.5 feet. It has a storage capacity of 420 acre-feet, providing water for agricultural activities in the region. The dam is situated on a tributary to Ochoco Creek, serving as a vital resource for maintaining water levels in the area.
Despite its importance, Barnes Butte Dam is currently classified as having a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment. The last inspection in August 2021 revealed the need for maintenance and potential improvements to ensure its long-term functionality and safety. The dam is regulated by the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD), with state enforcement, permitting, and inspection in place to monitor its operations and address any concerns. In the event of an emergency, such as a breach or overflow, emergency action plans (EAP) need to be developed to mitigate risks and protect downstream communities.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the maintenance and management of dams like Barnes Butte become increasingly crucial. With its vital role in irrigation and water storage, ensuring the safety and resilience of the dam is essential for sustainable water management in the region. Collaboration between the private owner, state agencies, and stakeholders is necessary to address the dam's current condition, implement necessary improvements, and develop comprehensive emergency preparedness plans to safeguard against potential risks and hazards.
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 Barnes Butte -- 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 | → |
| Bridge Cr Abv Coyote Canyon Nr Mitchell | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Barnes Butte.
Boat launches
- Ochoco Reservoir County Park
- County Ramp
- Prineville Reservoir State Park
- Jasper Point
- Roberts Bay East
- Powder House Cove
Paddle runs
- Cline Falls State Park To Lower Bridge
- Canyon Run (Lower Bridge To Billy Chinook Res.)
- 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)
- Warm Springs To Sherars Falls
Track Barnes Butte 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 Barnes Butte
Where does the data for Barnes Butte 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 Barnes Butte.