Morgan Lake
Morgan Lake is an earth dam located in Union County, Oregon, built in 1976. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Morgan Lake
The primary purpose of Morgan Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of La Grande (local government). It impounds the Sheep Creek & Deal Canyon near La Grande.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 75 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 780 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/25/2021.
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 | Union |
| Nearest City | La Grande |
| River/Stream | Sheep Creek & Deal Canyon |
| Coordinates | 45.30485, -118.13696 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 780 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 780 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 780 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 75 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of La Grande |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/25/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00653 |
| Federal ID | OR00653 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |