Cold Springs Dam
Cold Springs Dam is an earth dam located in Umatilla County, Oregon, built in 1908. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Cold Springs Dam
The primary purpose of Cold Springs 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 Umatilla River near Hermiston.
The dam stands 115 feet tall and stretches 3,450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,550 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 38,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 200 square miles. Completed in 1908, the structure is over a century 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 05/25/2022.
At 115 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 | Umatilla |
| Nearest City | Hermiston |
| River/Stream | Umatilla River |
| Coordinates | 45.86070, -119.17290 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 115 ft |
| Dam Height | 100 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1908 (118 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 38,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 38,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,550 acres |
| Drainage Area | 200 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 28,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/25/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00590 |
| Federal ID | OR00590 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |