Carmen Diversion dam
Carmen Diversion
Carmen Diversion, located in McKenzie Bridge, Oregon, is a hydroelectric facility designed by Bechtel Corporation and completed in 1963. The dam, primarily used for hydroelectric power generation, also serves recreational purposes and is classified as an Earth dam with a height of 17 feet and a length of 2100 feet. The reservoir created by the dam has a storage capacity of 260 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 30 acres, drawing water from the McKenzie River.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Carmen Diversion has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. Despite its low hazard potential, the facility undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and operational functionality. The dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 63 feet, capable of handling a maximum discharge of 6000 cubic feet per second. With its strategic location and purposeful design, Carmen Diversion plays a crucial role in meeting the energy needs of the region while offering opportunities for outdoor recreation along the McKenzie River.
As a key feature in the water resource infrastructure of Linn County, Oregon, Carmen Diversion underscores the importance of sustainable water management and renewable energy production. With its blend of functionality and recreational appeal, the facility serves as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of human engineering and natural resources. As climate change continues to impact water resources, facilities like Carmen Diversion will play an increasingly vital role in ensuring a resilient and sustainable water supply for the future.
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 Carmen Diversion -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mckenzie River At Outlet Of Clear Lake | 282 cfs | → |
| Smith R Ab Smith R Res Nr Belknap Sprgs | 20 cfs | → |
| Mckenzie River Bl Payne Cr | 220 cfs | → |
| Smith River Abv Trail Brdg Resv Nr Belknap Springs | 7 cfs | → |
| Mckenzie R Blw Trail Br Dam Nr Belknap Springs | 741 cfs | → |
| Lookout Creek Near Blue River | 37 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carmen Diversion.
Boat launches
- Carmen Diversion Launch Ramp
- Cold Water Cove Campground
- Lake's End Campground
- Smith Reservoir
- Trail Bridge Campground
- Big Lake Campground
Campgrounds
- Ice Cap Campground
- Cold Water Cove Campground
- Lakes End Campground
- Fish Lake Remount Depot - Hall House Cabin
- Fish Lake Remount Depot - Commissary Cabin
- Lost Prairie Group Campground
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Blue River Reservoir
- Headwaters Of Sevenmile Creek To Confluence With Latiwi Creek
- Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Boundary To Highway 22
- Headwaters To Mt Jefferson Wilderness Boundary
- West Section Line Of Sec 31, T12s, R6e To Middle Santiam Wilderness Boundary
- Middle Santiam River
More reservoirs
Track Carmen Diversion 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 Carmen Diversion
Where does the data for Carmen Diversion 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 Carmen Diversion.