Howell dam
Howell
Howell is a privately-owned earth dam located in Imbler, Oregon, along the Grande Ronde River's old channel. Completed in 1980, the dam stands at a height of 15 feet and has a storage capacity of 85 acre-feet, primarily used for irrigation purposes. The dam has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition, with the last inspection conducted in July 2011. The outlet gates consist of a slide (sluice gate), and the dam is regulated and inspected by the Oregon Water Resources Department.
The Howell dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in Union County, Oregon, serving as a vital irrigation structure for the surrounding agricultural lands. With a structural height of 18 feet and a length of 630 feet, the dam helps regulate water flow and storage along the Grande Ronde River. While its hazard potential is low, regular inspections and maintenance are essential to ensure the dam's continued safety and functionality. The dam's location within the Portland District underscores its significance in water resource management in the region.
As a key component of the irrigation infrastructure in Union County, the Howell dam contributes to the sustainable use of water resources for agricultural purposes. Its presence highlights the importance of proper dam maintenance and inspection to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the efficiency of water distribution for irrigation. With its earth construction and slide gate outlet, the Howell dam stands as a testament to the careful balance of water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
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 Howell -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Minam River Near Minam | 724 cfs | → |
| Meacham Creek At Gibbon | 14 cfs | → |
| Umatilla River Above Meacham Creek | 98 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Walla Walla | 46 cfs | → |
| Umatilla R At W Reservation Bndy Nr Pendleton | 116 cfs | → |
| Grande Ronde River At Troy | 2,030 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Howell.
Boat launches
- Morgan Lake Campground
- Minam State Recreation Area
- Palmer Junction Boat Launch
- Wolf Creek Boat Ramp
- Pilcher Creek Reservoir
- Thief Valley
Campgrounds
- Hu - Na - Ha Rv Park
- Summit Guard Station
- Minam State Park
- Moss Springs Campground
- Moss Springs
- Bear Creek Campground
Paddle runs
- Headwaters (Just North Of Confluence Of Mf Five Points Creek) To Wallowa-Whitman Nf Boundary
- Headwaters To Confluence With Van Patten Creek
- Headwaters To Eagle Cap Wilderness Boundary
- Eagle Cap Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Eagle Crek
- Joseph Creek
- Grande Ronde River (Lower)
Track Howell 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 Howell
Where does the data for Howell 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 Howell.