Hills Creek Dam facts for kids
Hills Creek Dam is a big dam located about 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Oakridge in Lane County, Oregon, United States. It holds back the water of Hills Creek Reservoir, which is a large lake. This reservoir covers about 2,735 acres (1,107 ha) and has a shoreline of roughly 44 miles (71 km). The dam is built on the Middle Fork Willamette River.
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Hills Creek Dam: A Giant Helper for Oregon
Where is Hills Creek Dam?
Hills Creek Dam is found in the beautiful state of Oregon, specifically in Lane County. It's not far from the town of Oakridge. The dam is built across the Middle Fork of the Willamette River. This river is an important waterway in Oregon.
Why Was Hills Creek Dam Built?
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) built Hills Creek Dam in 1961. Its main jobs are to store water and help control floods. This means it can hold back water during heavy rains to prevent flooding downstream. It also makes sure there's enough water for other uses.
Besides its main jobs, the dam helps in other ways too. It creates a great place for recreation, like boating and fishing. It also helps protect wildlife and waterfowl, giving them a safe habitat. Plus, it generates clean electricity!
How Big is Hills Creek Dam?
Hills Creek Dam is an "earthen dam." This means it's mostly made of compacted earth, rock, and clay. It also has a concrete spillway. A spillway is like a giant drain that lets extra water flow out safely when the reservoir gets too full.
The dam stands very tall, about 304 feet (93 meters) high. It can hold a massive amount of water, about 355,500 acre-feet (438,500,000 cubic meters). That's a lot of water!
Generating Clean Energy
Hills Creek Dam is also a power plant! It has two special units that can create electricity from the moving water. These units can produce a total of 30 megawatts of power. This is a clean way to make electricity, using the force of water without burning fossil fuels.
Part of a Bigger Plan
Hills Creek Dam is just one of 13 projects built by the USACE in the Willamette Valley. These projects work together to manage the rivers and water resources in the area. Two other dams, Lookout Point Lake and Dexter Reservoir, are also on the Middle Fork Willamette River, further downstream from Hills Creek Dam. They all play a part in keeping the Willamette Valley safe and productive.
