Wolf Creek
Wolf Creek is an earth dam located in Union County, Oregon, built in 1974. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Wolf Creek
The primary purpose of Wolf Creek is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Powder Valley Water Control District (local government). It impounds the Wolf Creek And Anthony Creek near North Powder.
The dam stands 128 feet tall and stretches 1,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 220 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 12,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 32 square miles. Completed in 1974, 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 08/24/2020.
At 128 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 | Union |
| Nearest City | North Powder |
| River/Stream | Wolf Creek And Anthony Creek |
| Coordinates | 45.05238, -118.01890 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 128 ft |
| Dam Height | 125 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 10,800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 220 acres |
| Drainage Area | 32 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 17,370 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | POWDER VALLEY WATER CONTROL DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/24/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00220 |
| Federal ID | OR00220 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |