Empire Lake, Lower is a gravity dam located in Coos County, Oregon, built in 1935. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 12 ft12 ft tall and 50 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Empire Lake, Lower
The primary purpose of Empire Lake, Lower 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 City of Coos Bay (local government). It impounds the Chickness Creek, Trib to near Empire.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 50 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 192 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1935, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 01/22/2021.
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Location
| State | Oregon |
| County | Coos |
| Nearest City | Empire |
| River/Stream | Chickness Creek, Trib to |
| Coordinates | 43.39648, -124.26306 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 50 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 192 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 192 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 192 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 82 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Coos Bay |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 01/22/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00405 |
| Federal ID | OR00405 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |