Galesville
Galesville is a gravity dam located in Douglas County, Oregon, built in 1985. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Galesville
The primary purpose of Galesville is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Douglas County, Oregon (local government). It impounds the Cow Creek, Umpqua River near Glendale, Or.
The dam stands 167 feet tall and stretches 950 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 640 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 117,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 73 square miles. Completed in 1985, the structure is 41 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/03/2022.
At 167 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Douglas |
| Nearest City | Glendale, Or |
| River/Stream | Cow Creek, Umpqua River |
| Coordinates | 42.84900, -123.17880 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 167 ft |
| Dam Height | 163 ft |
| Dam Length | 950 ft |
| Year Completed | 1985 (41 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 117,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 117,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 41,890 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 640 acres |
| Drainage Area | 73 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 45,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Douglas County, Oregon |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/03/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00748 |
| Federal ID | OR00748 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |