Painted Hills Reservoir

BEAR AND BRIDGE CREEKS· Wheeler, Oregon· Built 1979· Earth· 42 ft tall
Low Hazard Irrigation Private

Key Takeaway

Painted Hills Reservoir is classified as low hazard in Oregon. It was completed in 1979 and is 47 years old. Its primary use is irrigation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 42 ft (taller than 79.1% in OR)
Dam Length560 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage1.0K acre-ft
Normal Storage800 acre-ft
Surface Area3 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge2,884 cfs
Year Completed1979 (47 years old)
NID IDOR00658

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
Last Inspection: October 30, 2017
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: OWRD

Ownership

PAPE GROUP

Private

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Painted Hills Reservoir?

Painted Hills Reservoir is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Painted Hills Reservoir?

Painted Hills Reservoir is owned by PAPE GROUP (Private). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Painted Hills Reservoir built?

Painted Hills Reservoir was completed in 1979, making it 47 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Painted Hills Reservoir?

Painted Hills Reservoir serves the following purposes: Irrigation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Painted Hills Reservoir?

Painted Hills Reservoir has a dam height of 42 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

When was Painted Hills Reservoir last inspected?

Painted Hills Reservoir was last inspected on October 30, 2017. Inspection dates indicate when a formal review occurred, not the results of that inspection.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.