South Fork Reservoir

South Fork Reservoir is an earth dam located in Harney County, Oregon, built in 1968. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.

About South Fork Reservoir

The primary purpose of South Fork Reservoir is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Tree Top Ranches (private). It impounds the South Fork Malheur River near Riverside.

The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 625 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 14 square miles. Completed in 1968, 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 10/30/2020.

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Significant HazardNot Rated ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateOregon
CountyHarney
Nearest CityRiverside
River/StreamSouth Fork Malheur River
Coordinates43.23426, -118.33255

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height30 ft
Dam Height28 ft
Dam Length900 ft
Year Completed1968 (58 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage625 acre-ft
Max Storage625 acre-ft
Normal Storage536 acre-ft
Surface Area10 acres
Drainage Area14 sq mi
Max Discharge418 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeIrrigation
OwnerTREE TOP RANCHES
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentNot Rated
Last Inspection10/30/2020
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDOR00498
Federal IDOR00498
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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