Woodrat Knob
Woodrat Knob is an earth dam located in Jackson County, Oregon, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Woodrat Knob
The primary purpose of Woodrat Knob is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Cascade Ranch, Chicago 60614 (private). It impounds the Lake Creek & Tribs near Lake Creek.
The dam stands 92 feet tall and stretches 1,320 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,789 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1960, 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/13/2021.
At 92 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 | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Lake Creek |
| River/Stream | Lake Creek & Tribs |
| Coordinates | 42.40194, -122.64111 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 92 ft |
| Dam Height | 90 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,320 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,789 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,789 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,789 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 240 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | CASCADE RANCH, CHICAGO 60614 |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/13/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00357 |
| Federal ID | OR00357 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |