Balm Creek Reservoir is an earth dam located in Baker County, Oregon, built in 1963. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 68 ft68 ft tall and 460 ft long, taller than 96% 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 Balm Creek Reservoir
The primary purpose of Balm Creek Reservoir is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Harry H Jacobs & Sons (private). It impounds the Balm Creek - Balm Creek & Union Sp near Richland.
The dam stands 68 feet tall and stretches 460 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 112 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,550 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 05/28/2020.
At 68 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Oregon |
| County | Baker |
| Nearest City | Richland |
| River/Stream | Balm Creek - Balm Creek & Union Sp |
| Coordinates | 44.96988, -117.49100 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 68 ft |
| Dam Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Length | 460 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,550 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,550 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,926 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 112 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 400 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Harry H Jacobs & Sons |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 05/28/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00406 |
| Federal ID | OR00406 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |