Empire Lake, Lower

Empire Lake, Lower is a gravity dam located in Coos County, Oregon, built in 1935. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.

About Empire Lake, Lower

The primary purpose of Empire Lake, Lower 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 Coos Bay (local government). It impounds the Chickness Creek, Trib To near Empire.

The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 50 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 192 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1935, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 01/22/2021.

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Low HazardNot Rated ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateOregon
CountyCoos
Nearest CityEmpire
River/StreamChickness Creek, Trib To
Coordinates43.39648, -124.26306

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeGravity
NID Height12 ft
Dam Height10 ft
Dam Length50 ft
Year Completed1935 (91 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage192 acre-ft
Max Storage192 acre-ft
Normal Storage192 acre-ft
Surface Area17 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge82 cfs

Ownership & Safety

PurposeWater Supply
OwnerCITY OF COOS BAY
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentNot Rated
Last Inspection01/22/2021
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDOR00405
Federal IDOR00405
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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