Round Butte dam
Round Butte
Round Butte, also known as Billy Chinook Lake, is a private-owned hydroelectric facility located in Warm Springs, Oregon. The dam, completed in 1964, stands at a towering height of 440 feet and boasts a capacity of 535,000 acre-feet, making it a significant water resource in the region. With a primary purpose of generating hydroelectric power, Round Butte also offers recreational opportunities within its 4,000-acre surface area.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Round Butte's controlled spillway and Tainter gates ensure the safe release of water, with a maximum discharge capacity of 28,000 cubic feet per second. The dam's hazard potential is rated as high, emphasizing the importance of regular inspections and emergency preparedness. Despite its risk level, Round Butte remains a critical component of the Deschutes River system, providing both power generation and water storage for the surrounding area.
With its rockfill structure and impressive hydraulic height of 425 feet, Round Butte is a marvel of engineering and a vital resource for the local community. Its location within the picturesque Jefferson County, Oregon, offers a scenic backdrop for outdoor enthusiasts and climate advocates alike. As climate change continues to impact water resources, Round Butte's role in sustainable energy production and water management becomes increasingly significant, highlighting the importance of responsible stewardship and conservation efforts 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 Round Butte -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deschutes River Near Culver | 554 cfs | → |
| Crooked River Below Opal Springs | 1,260 cfs | → |
| Deschutes River Near Madras | 3,660 cfs | → |
| Metolius River Near Grandview | 1,280 cfs | → |
| Shitike Creek Near Warm Springs | 66 cfs | → |
| Crooked River Blw Osborne Canyon | 94 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Round Butte.
Boat launches
- Cove Palisades Marina
- Pelton Park
- Perry South
- Haystack West
- Haystack Campground
- Warm Springs Boat Ramp (State Park)
Campgrounds
- Cove Palisades State Park
- Blm Beach Campground
- Pelton Park
- Jefferson County Fairgrounds Rv
- Madras City Park
- Perry South Campground
Paddle runs
- Crooked River National Grassland Boundary To Confluence With Deschutes River
- Warm Springs To Sherars Falls
- Canyon Run (Lower Bridge To Billy Chinook Res.)
- Source To Confluence With Metolius River
- Cline Falls State Park To Lower Bridge
- Breitenbush Lake To Confluence With North Fork Breitenbush River
Track Round Butte 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 Round Butte
Where does the data for Round Butte 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 Round Butte.