Soda Springs Dam
Soda Springs
Soda Springs, located in Idleyld Park, Oregon, is a privately owned hydroelectric facility on the North Umpqua River. Built in 1952, this arch dam stands at a height of 124.5 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 512 acre-feet. With a primary purpose of generating hydroelectric power, the dam also serves recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 32 acres for outdoor activities.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Soda Springs has a controlled spillway with a width of 107 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 17,500 cubic feet per second. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently not available. The dam's Emergency Action Plan was last revised in April 2021, indicating a commitment to ensuring public safety in the event of an emergency.
With its picturesque location in Douglas County, Oregon, Soda Springs is a vital piece of infrastructure in the region's water resource management. As climate and water resource enthusiasts, the details of Soda Springs' design and operation offer a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of engineering, environmental conservation, and energy production in the Pacific Northwest.
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 Soda Springs -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N.Umpqua R Blw Soda Spgs Resv | 306 cfs | → |
| Boulder Creek Near Toketee Falls | 6 cfs | → |
| N Umpqua River Abv Copeland Ck Nr Toketee Falls | 699 cfs | → |
| N.Umpqua R Blw Slide Ck Dam Nr Toketee Falls | 263 cfs | → |
| North Umpqua River At Toketee Falls Oreg. | 89 cfs | → |
| Fish Creek Abv Slipper Creek Nr Toketee Falls | 39 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Soda Springs.
Boat launches
See all →
Campgrounds
See all →
Fishing spots
See all →
River runs
See all →
About Soda Springs
Where does the data for Soda Springs 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 below 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.
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.