Ritchey Farm Reservoir dam
Ritchey Farm Reservoir
Ritchey Farm Reservoir, also known as Carpenter Creek Dam, is a privately owned water resource located in Forest Grove, Oregon. Built in 1985, this earth dam serves primarily for irrigation purposes, with a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet and a surface area of 22 acres. The reservoir is fed by the Forest Grove Effluent and has a low hazard potential, making it a reliable source of water for agricultural use in the region.
The dam stands at a height of 12 feet with a hydraulic height of 9 feet and a length of 300 feet. It is equipped with a slide (sluice gate) outlet gates for water control. Despite its age, the dam has not been rated for its condition, with the last inspection conducted in October 2017. The reservoir's location in Washington County, Oregon, makes it a vital component of the local water infrastructure, ensuring water availability for irrigation needs in the area.
Managed by the Oregon Water Resources Department, the Ritchey Farm Reservoir plays a crucial role in water management and conservation efforts in the region. With its regulated state jurisdiction and inspection protocols in place, the dam continues to provide essential water resources while maintaining low risk levels. As climate change impacts water availability, reservoirs like Ritchey Farm are vital for sustainable water resource management and resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Ritchey Farm Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tualatin River Near Dilley | 96 cfs | → |
| East Fork Dairy Creek Near Meacham Corner | 21 cfs | → |
| Willamette River At Newberg | 10,700 cfs | → |
| Fanno Creek At 56th Ave | 0 cfs | → |
| Fanno Creek At Durham | 8 cfs | → |
| Columbia Slough At Portland | 580 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ritchey Farm Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Crescent Park Greenway Hillsboro
- Sauvie Island Boat Ramp
- Happy Rock Moorage Inc.
- Big Oak Marina
- Cook Park
- Columbia Slough
Campgrounds
- Camp R&R
- Gales Creek
- Gales Creek Campground
- Brooke Creek Hike-In Camp
- L. L. Stub Stewart State Park
- Reeher Forest Park
Track Ritchey Farm 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 Ritchey Farm Reservoir
Where does the data for Ritchey Farm 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 Ritchey Farm Reservoir.