Haystack Dam is an earth dam located in Jefferson County, Oregon, built in 1957. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 105 ft105 ft tall and 1,200 ft long, taller than 98% 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 Haystack Dam
The primary purpose of Haystack Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Haystack Creek Os near Madras.
The dam stands 105 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 280 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,350 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1957, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/23/2022.
At 105 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Madras |
| River/Stream | Haystack Creek Os |
| Coordinates | 44.49910, -121.15550 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 105 ft |
| Dam Height | 105 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,350 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,350 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,635 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 280 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Bureau of Reclamation |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 03/23/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00287 |
| Federal ID | OR00287 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |