Pilcher Creek dam
Pilcher Creek
Pilcher Creek, located in Union, Oregon, is a significant earth dam built in 1984 primarily for irrigation purposes. Managed by the local government and regulated by the Oregon Water Resources Department, the dam stands at a height of 110 feet with a hydraulic height of 104 feet, providing a storage capacity of 5910 acre-feet. With a drainage area of 3.37 square miles and a surface area of 221.5 acres, Pilcher Creek plays a crucial role in supporting the agricultural needs of the region.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment, Pilcher Creek poses a high hazard potential, emphasizing the importance of regular inspections and maintenance. The dam's last inspection in August 2020 revealed no significant issues, ensuring its continued functionality for the surrounding community. With a maximum discharge capacity of 514 cubic feet per second, Pilcher Creek serves as a vital water resource for the area, contributing to the sustainability of local agriculture and ecosystems.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the intricate details of Pilcher Creek's design and operation offer insight into the intersection of infrastructure and environmental conservation. With its Earth dam structure and efficient storage capacity, the dam symbolizes the careful balance between harnessing water resources for human needs while maintaining ecological integrity. The ongoing management of Pilcher Creek underscores the importance of sustainable water practices in the face of changing climate patterns, highlighting the complex interplay between water management, regulation, and community resilience.
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 Pilcher Creek -- 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 | → |
| John Day R At Blue Mtn Hot Spgs Nr Prairie City | 34 cfs | → |
| M Fk John Day R At Ritter | 86 cfs | → |
| Umatilla R At W Reservation Bndy Nr Pendleton | 116 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pilcher Creek.
Boat launches
- Pilcher Creek Reservoir
- Wolf Creek Boat Ramp
- Grande Ronde Boat Launch
- Grande Ronde Lake Campground
- Anthony Lakes Boat Launch
- Anthony Lake Campground
Campgrounds
- Anthony Lake
- Mud Lake
- Anthony Lake Campground
- Grande Ronde Lake
- Mud Lake Campground
- Anthony Lakes Guard Station
Track Pilcher Creek 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 Pilcher Creek
Where does the data for Pilcher Creek 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 Pilcher Creek.