Happy Valley
Happy Valley is an earth dam located in Wasco County, Oregon, built in 1938. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Happy Valley
The primary purpose of Happy Valley is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bia (federal). It impounds the Quartz Creek.
The dam stands 70 feet tall and stretches 393 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 19 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 490 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1938, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 06/14/2022.
At 70 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Wasco |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Quartz Creek |
| Coordinates | 44.96390, -121.32350 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Length | 393 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 490 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 490 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 360 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 19 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,445 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BIA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/14/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00694 |
| Federal ID | OR00694 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |