Emigrant dam
Emigrant
Emigrant, also known as E-1, is a Federal-owned dam located in Ashland, Oregon. Built in 1960 by the Bureau of Reclamation, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 204 feet and serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, irrigation, and recreation. With a storage capacity of 46,700 acre-feet and a surface area of 806 acres, Emigrant plays a crucial role in managing the water resources of Emigrant Creek, Hyatt, and Howard Prairie Reservoirs.
With a hazard potential rated as high, Emigrant is a key infrastructure in the region for mitigating flood risks and ensuring water supply for various purposes. The dam is associated with three other structures and is regulated, inspected, and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation. Despite its age, the condition assessment of Emigrant is not available, and the last inspection was conducted in May 2020. As we continue to face challenges related to climate change and water resource management, the role of dams like Emigrant becomes even more critical in ensuring the resilience of our water infrastructure.
Located in Jackson County, Oregon, Emigrant Dam stands as a testament to the ingenuity and engineering prowess of the past, providing essential services to the local community and beyond. As climate change impacts become more pronounced, the need for effective water resource management and flood risk reduction measures becomes increasingly urgent. Emigrant serves as a vital piece of this puzzle, highlighting the interconnectedness of water resources, infrastructure, and environmental stewardship 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 Emigrant -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork Ashland Creek Near Ashland | 4 cfs | → |
| West Fork Ashland Creek Near Ashland | 5 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Blw Ashland Creek At Ashland | 43 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Medford | 34 cfs | → |
| Klamath R Bl Iron Gate Dam Ca | 1,450 cfs | → |
| Shasta R Nr Yreka Ca | 65 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Emigrant.
Boat launches
- Patrick Dunn
- Songer Wayside
- Hyatt Lake Recreation Area
- Cascade Boat Ramp & Dock
- Mountain View Boat Ramp & Dock
- Wildcat Campground
Campgrounds
- Oak Slope Campground
- Emigrant Lake - Point Park
- Glenyan Rv Park & Campground
- Cascade Meadows Reservable Group Site
- Pacific Crest Trail Walk-In Campsite
- Hyatt Lake Campground
Fishing spots
Track Emigrant 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 Emigrant
Where does the data for Emigrant 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 Emigrant.