Willow Creek
Willow Creek is an earth dam located in Jackson County, Oregon, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Willow Creek
The primary purpose of Willow Creek is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Medford (local government). It impounds the Willow & Four Bit Creeks near Big Butte Springs.
The dam stands 59 feet tall and stretches 2,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 322 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 12,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 21 square miles. Completed in 1953, 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/15/2020.
At 59 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Big Butte Springs |
| River/Stream | Willow & Four Bit Creeks |
| Coordinates | 42.47919, -122.44939 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 59 ft |
| Dam Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 322 acres |
| Drainage Area | 21 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,634 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF MEDFORD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/15/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00212 |
| Federal ID | OR00212 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |