Vaughn Reservoir (Malheur) dam
Vaughn Reservoir (Malheur)
Located in Malheur, Oregon, Vaughn Reservoir is a privately owned water resource designed primarily for irrigation purposes. Completed in 1959, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 70 feet, with a maximum storage capacity of 825 acre-feet. The reservoir spans 37 acres and is fed by the South Fork Indian Creek, with a drainage area of 13 square miles.
Maintained by the Oregon Water Resources Department, Vaughn Reservoir has a low hazard potential and is inspected every 6 years, with the last assessment conducted in October 2018. The reservoir features needle outlet gates and has a maximum discharge capacity of 675 cubic feet per second. Although the condition assessment is currently not rated, the dam is regulated, permitted, and inspected by state authorities, ensuring its safe operation for irrigation purposes.
Vaughn Reservoir serves as a vital water source for the surrounding area, contributing to agricultural activities in the region. With its strategic location and essential role in water management, this reservoir plays a key role in sustaining the local ecosystem and supporting the irrigation needs of the community. As a well-maintained and regulated structure, Vaughn Reservoir exemplifies the importance of water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Vaughn Reservoir (Malheur) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Malheur River At Beulah Or | 1 cfs | → |
| Malheur R Be Warmsprings Res Nr Riverside Or | 0 cfs | → |
| Malheur River Below Nevada Dam Near Vale Or | 23 cfs | → |
| Owyhee River Below Owyhee Dam Or | 158 cfs | → |
| John Day R At Blue Mtn Hot Spgs Nr Prairie City | 32 cfs | → |
| Snake River At Nyssa Or | 7,400 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vaughn Reservoir (Malheur).
Boat launches
- Beulah Reservoir Ramp
- Bully Creek Campground
- Malheur Reservoir
- North Warm Springs
- North Point Boat Launch 1
- North Point Boat Launch 2
Campgrounds
- Chukar Park
- Crane Crossing
- Crane Creek Campground
- Eldorado
- Bully Creek Reservoir County Park
- North Fork Malheur Campground
Track Vaughn Reservoir (Malheur) 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 Vaughn Reservoir (Malheur)
Where does the data for Vaughn Reservoir (Malheur) 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 Vaughn Reservoir (Malheur).