Wageman
Wageman is an earth dam located in Douglas County, Oregon, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Wageman
The primary purpose of Wageman is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Carol Buchheim (private). It impounds the Ten Mile Creek, Trib To near Tenmile.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 70 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/03/2021.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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 | Douglas |
| Nearest City | Tenmile |
| River/Stream | Ten Mile Creek, Trib To |
| Coordinates | 43.10406, -123.59005 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 175 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Carol Buchheim |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/03/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00496 |
| Federal ID | OR00496 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |