Haystack dam
Haystack
Haystack is a federal-owned dam located in Oregon, specifically in Jefferson County near the city of Madras. Built in 1956 by the Bureau of Reclamation, this earth dam stands at a height of 105 feet and serves primarily for irrigation purposes, with a storage capacity of 7350 acre-feet. The dam, situated on Haystack Creek OS, has a structural height of 102 feet and a hydraulic height of 74 feet, covering a surface area of 280 acres and draining a 10 square mile watershed.
Despite its age, Haystack dam remains an essential water resource infrastructure in the region, with a high hazard potential and risk assessment rating of 2. The dam lacks a spillway and outlet gates, posing challenges in managing excess water flow during peak periods. Although the condition assessment is not available, the Bureau of Reclamation oversees inspections and operations to ensure the safety and functionality of the structure. With its significant storage capacity and critical role in supporting irrigation needs, Haystack dam continues to be a vital asset in water management and climate resilience efforts in 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 Haystack -- 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 | → |
| Metolius River Near Grandview | 1,280 cfs | → |
| Shitike Creek Near Warm Springs | 66 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Haystack.
Boat launches
- Haystack West
- Haystack Campground
- Cove Palisades Marina
- Pelton Park
- Perry South
- Warm Springs Boat Ramp (State Park)
Campgrounds
- Haystack West Shore Campground And Day Use Area
- Haystack South Shore Group Campground
- Haystack Reservoir Campground And Day Use Area
- Haystack Lake
- Cyrus Horse Camp
- Cove Palisades State Park
Paddle runs
- Crooked River National Grassland Boundary To Confluence With Deschutes River
- Canyon Run (Lower Bridge To Billy Chinook Res.)
- Cline Falls State Park To Lower Bridge
- Warm Springs To Sherars Falls
- Source To Confluence With Metolius River
- Tumalo State Park To Cline Falls State Park
Track Haystack 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 Haystack
Where does the data for Haystack 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 Haystack.