Belchers Dam dam
Belchers Dam
Belchers Dam, located in Gresham, Oregon, is a privately owned structure that plays a vital role in irrigation along the Middle Fork Beaver Creek. Completed in 1965, this earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet and has a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment that is not rated, Belchers Dam is regulated by the Oregon Water Resources Department and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and functionality.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Belchers Dam serves as a key resource for water storage and distribution in the region, with a normal storage capacity of 30 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 1120 cubic feet per second. Despite not having an official condition assessment, the dam's low hazard potential indicates that it poses minimal risk to surrounding areas. The dam's location in Multnomah County, Oregon, makes it a crucial component of the local water infrastructure, supporting agricultural activities and ensuring water availability for the community.
As an essential feature for irrigation purposes, Belchers Dam contributes to the sustainable management of water resources in the area. Its construction and operation are subject to state regulations and inspections, highlighting the commitment to maintaining the dam's integrity and safety. With a history dating back to the 1960s, Belchers Dam continues to play a significant role in water management along the Middle Fork Beaver Creek, showcasing the importance of thoughtful infrastructure development in mitigating the impact of climate change on water availability and usage.
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 Belchers Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver Creek At Troutdale | 1 cfs | → |
| Johnson Creek At Regner Road | 3 cfs | → |
| Sandy River Blw Bull Run River | 1,150 cfs | → |
| Fairview Creek At Glisan St Near Gresham | 6 cfs | → |
| Kelley Creek At Se 159th Drive At Portland | 1 cfs | → |
| Johnson Creek At Sycamore | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Belchers Dam.
Boat launches
- Lewis And Clark State Park
- Interstate 84, Corbett
- Heritage Park
- Southeast Leadbetter Road 100-898, Camas
- Sandy Beach
- A-1 Moorage
Campgrounds
- Oxbow Regional Park
- Barton Park Camping
- Barton Park
- Kingfisher Group Camp
- Mciver State Park
- Hiker/Biker Sites
Paddle runs
- Clackamas River
- Sandy River
- North Section Line Of Sec 17, T4s, R5e To Slackwater North Fork Reservoir
- Headwaters To North Section Line Of Sec 17, T4s, R5e
- Mt. Hood Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Sandy River
- Headwaters In Sw 1/4 Of Sec 8, T4n, R6e To Gifford Pinchot Nf Boundary
Track Belchers Dam 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 Belchers Dam
Where does the data for Belchers Dam 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 Belchers Dam.