Berry Creek
Berry Creek is an earth dam located in Douglas County, Oregon, built in 1980. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Berry Creek
The primary purpose of Berry 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 Douglas County (local government). It impounds the Berry Creek near Ollala.
The dam stands 148 feet tall and stretches 820 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 250 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 15,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 square miles. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 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 11/06/2020.
At 148 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Douglas |
| Nearest City | Ollala |
| River/Stream | Berry Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.04044, -123.55533 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 148 ft |
| Dam Height | 140 ft |
| Dam Length | 820 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 15,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 15,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 11,250 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 250 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 12,000 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | DOUGLAS COUNTY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/06/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00640 |
| Federal ID | OR00640 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |