Olalla dam
Olalla
Olalla, located in Lincoln, Oregon, is a privately-owned dam on the West Olalla Creek, with a primary purpose classified as 'Other'. Constructed in 1968 by CH2M HILL, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 83 feet and stretches 350 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 4300 acre-feet and a drainage area of 1.36 square miles, Olalla plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
Despite its fair condition assessment, Olalla poses a high hazard potential, making it vital for regular inspections and maintenance. The dam's last inspection in August 2020 revealed its current state, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring to ensure public safety and prevent potential risks associated with its operation. The dam's proximity to Toledo and its impact on water resources underscore the importance of effective regulatory oversight and emergency preparedness measures.
With a maximum discharge of 355 cubic feet per second and a normal storage capacity of 3650 acre-feet, Olalla serves as a key infrastructure for water storage and flood control in the area. As climate change continues to impact water resources and extreme weather events become more frequent, the role of dams like Olalla in managing water supply and mitigating risks is increasingly critical. As such, ongoing attention to the dam's maintenance, risk assessment, and emergency response planning is essential to ensure the safety and resilience of the surrounding community in the face of a changing climate.
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 Olalla -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Siletz River At Siletz | 302 cfs | → |
| Alsea River Near Tidewater | 386 cfs | → |
| Marys River Near Philomath | 108 cfs | → |
| East Fork Lobster Creek Near Alsea | 4 cfs | → |
| Willamette River At Corvallis | 6,360 cfs | → |
| Luckiamute River Near Suver | 210 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Olalla.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Beverly Beach State Park
- Port Of Newport Marina And Rv Park
- South Beach State Park
- Group Site 2
- Group Site 1
- Group Site 3
Track Olalla 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 Olalla
Where does the data for Olalla 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 Olalla.