Fall Creek Dam
Fall Creek Dam is a rockfill dam located in Lane County, Oregon, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Fall Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Fall Creek Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Portland District (federal). It impounds the Fall Creek near Eugene.
The dam stands 205 feet tall and stretches 5,050 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,860 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 125,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 184 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/13/2023.
At 205 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Oregon dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Oregon |
| County | Lane |
| Nearest City | Eugene |
| River/Stream | Fall Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.94667, -122.75670 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 205 ft |
| Dam Height | 186 ft |
| Dam Length | 5,050 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 125,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 125,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 115,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,860 acres |
| Drainage Area | 184 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 82,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Portland District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/13/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00007 |
| Federal ID | OR00007 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |