Hawks Nest Reservoir dam
Hawks Nest Reservoir
Hawks Nest Reservoir, located in Malheur, Oregon, is a Federal-owned water resource managed by the DOI Bureau of Land Management. Completed in 1961, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 24.5 feet and has a storage capacity of 32 acre-feet. The reservoir primarily serves irrigation purposes, but also supports fish and wildlife habitats, as well as recreational activities.
Managed by the Walla Walla District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Hawks Nest Reservoir has a low hazard potential and is currently in a not rated condition. The dam features a slide (sluice gate) outlet and covers a surface area of 4.8 acres. While the dam has not been modified in recent years, it is subject to state regulations and inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with environmental standards.
Despite its small size and limited drainage area, Hawks Nest Reservoir plays a crucial role in supporting local agriculture and wildlife in the region. With a focus on sustainable water management and conservation, this reservoir serves as a vital resource for the community while offering opportunities for outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship.
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 Hawks Nest Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Owyhee River Nr Rome Or | 101 cfs | → |
| Owyhee River Below Owyhee Dam Or | 158 cfs | → |
| Snake River Nr Murphy Id | 8,240 cfs | → |
| Dixie Drain Nr Wilder Id | 221 cfs | → |
| Boise River At Caldwell | 1,470 cfs | → |
| Conway Gulch Below 1st St At Notus | 25 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hawks Nest Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Upper Cow Lake
- Leslie Gulch Boat Launch
- Leslie Gulch Road Malheur County
- Antelope Reservoir
- Rome Launch-Site
Campgrounds
- Cow Lakes Campground
- Slocum Creek Campground
- Leslie Gulch Site
- Birch Creek Historic Ranch
- Pothole
- Pothole Arch
Paddle runs
Track Hawks Nest Reservoir 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 Hawks Nest Reservoir
Where does the data for Hawks Nest Reservoir 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 Hawks Nest Reservoir.