Walterville Forebay dam
Walterville Forebay
Walterville Forebay is a significant hydroelectric structure located on the McKenzie River in Lane County, Oregon. Built in 1911, this concrete dam stands at a height of 24 feet and has a storage capacity of 275 acre-feet. With a high hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment, the dam is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and undergoes inspections to ensure its safety and functionality.
The primary purpose of the Walterville Forebay is to generate hydroelectric power, making it a crucial part of the region's energy infrastructure. With a maximum discharge of 3380 cubic feet per second, this dam plays a key role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts. Despite its age, the dam remains in good condition, with regular emergency action plans and risk assessments in place to mitigate potential hazards and ensure the safety of surrounding communities.
Owned by a public utility, the Walterville Forebay serves as a vital asset in the Portland District's water management system. The dam's location in Springfield, Oregon, along with its impressive design by CH2M, highlights its importance in providing renewable energy and supporting sustainable water resource practices in the region. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Walterville Forebay stands as a testament to the intersection of infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and energy production in the face of changing climate dynamics.
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 Walterville Forebay -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Camp Crk At Camp Crk Rd Bridge | 13 cfs | → |
| Mckenzie River Near Walterville | 2,710 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek At Springfield | 0 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Willamette River At Jasper | 2,970 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River Near Springfield | 128 cfs | → |
| Mckenzie River Abv Hayden Br | 2,730 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Walterville Forebay.
Boat launches
- Hendricks Bridge County Park
- Bellinger Landing
- Walterville
- Taylor Landing Rv Park And Marina
- Taylor Landing Day Use Area
- Jasper Bridge Access
Campgrounds
- Willamettans
- Willamette National Forest
- Cascara State Park
- Armitage Park Campground
- Dolly Varden Campground
- Dolly Varden
Track Walterville Forebay 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 Walterville Forebay
Where does the data for Walterville Forebay 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 Walterville Forebay.