Fish Lake Dam
Fish Lake Dam is a rockfill dam located in Jackson County, Oregon, built in 1908. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Fish Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Fish Lake Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Medford Irrigation District;rogue River Valley Irrigation District (public utility). It impounds the Little Butte Creek near Lake Creek.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 960 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 415 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,397 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1908, the structure is over a century 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/27/2022.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Lake Creek |
| River/Stream | Little Butte Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.37810, -122.34860 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Length | 960 ft |
| Year Completed | 1908 (118 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,397 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,397 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,897 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 415 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,330 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | MEDFORD IRRIGATION DISTRICT;ROGUE RIVER VALLEY IRRIGATION DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/27/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00021 |
| Federal ID | OR00021 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |