Griffin Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Harney County, Oregon, built in 1953. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 46 ft46 ft tall and 500 ft long, taller than 91% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Griffin Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Griffin Creek Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Joel C. Sword (private). It impounds the Griffin Creek near Drewsey.
The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 26 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1953, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 11/04/2020.
At 46 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Oregon |
| County | Harney |
| Nearest City | Drewsey |
| River/Stream | Griffin Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.88654, -118.54121 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 475 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 26 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 824 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Joel C. Sword |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 11/04/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00233 |
| Federal ID | OR00233 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |