Marks Lake Dam dam
Marks Lake Dam
Marks Lake Dam, located in Prineville, Oregon, stands as a testament to sustainable water resource management and climate resilience. Built in 1968 primarily for recreation purposes, this private-owned earth dam boasts a structural height of 20 feet and a hydraulic height of 18 feet. With a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 52 acre-feet, Marks Lake Dam plays a crucial role in regulating the flow of Marks Creek, with a maximum discharge capacity of 425 cubic feet per second.
Despite its low hazard potential, Marks Lake Dam remains a vital component of the local ecosystem, providing a surface area of 5 acres and serving a drainage area of 14.3 square miles. Regular inspections, with the last one conducted in October 2020, ensure the dam's integrity and safety. While the condition assessment is currently marked as "Not Rated," the dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures are under continuous review to meet evolving guidelines and address potential hazards.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, Marks Lake Dam stands as a model of proactive management and adaptation. From its serene recreational setting to its functional water regulation capabilities, this earth dam embodies the intersection of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship in the face of a changing climate. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, Marks Lake Dam serves as a beacon of resilience and sustainability in the ongoing battle against climate challenges.
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 Marks 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 | → |
| Pine Creek Near Clarno | 8 cfs | → |
| John Day River At Service Creek | 757 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 Marks Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Walton Lake
- Ochoco Reservoir County Park
- Lower Burnt Ranch Recreation Site
- Priest Hole Recreation Site
- Priest Hole
- Twickenham
Campgrounds
- Ochoco Divide
- Ochoco Divide Campground
- Ochoco Divide Group Site
- Whistler Spring Campground
- Whistler Campground
- Ochoco Ranger Rental House
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)
More reservoirs
Track Marks 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 Marks Lake Dam
Where does the data for Marks 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 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 Marks Lake Dam.