Warm Springs Dam
Warm Springs Dam is a concrete dam located in Malheur County, Oregon, built in 1919. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Warm Springs Dam
The primary purpose of Warm Springs Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Warm Springs Irrigation District (public utility). It impounds the Middle Fork Malheur River near Juntura.
The dam stands 106 feet tall and stretches 469 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4,600 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 169,714 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,075 square miles. Completed in 1919, the structure is over a century 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 06/26/2018. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 106 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Malheur |
| Nearest City | Juntura |
| River/Stream | Middle Fork Malheur River |
| Coordinates | 43.58540, -118.20880 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 106 ft |
| Dam Height | 100 ft |
| Dam Length | 469 ft |
| Year Completed | 1919 (107 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 169,714 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 169,714 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4,600 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,075 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,799 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | WARM SPRINGS IRRIGATION DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/26/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00082 |
| Federal ID | OR00082 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |