Detroit Dam

{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}

{{Infobox dam

| name = Detroit Dam

| name_official =

| image = Detroit Dam (2019).jpg

| image_size =

| image_caption = Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River

| image_alt =

| location_map = Oregon

| location_map_size =

| location_map_caption =

| location_map_alt =

| coordinates = {{coord|44|43|15.44|N|122|14|59.27|W|type:landmark_region:US-OR|format=dec|display=inline,title}}

| country = United States

| location = Detroit, Linn County/Marion County, Oregon

| purpose = Flood control, power, irrigation

| status = O

| construction_began = 1949

| opening = {{Start date and age|1953}}

| demolished =

| cost = $13,615,000 (1953 est.) equiv. to ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|13615000|1953|r=-5}}}} today{{Inflation-fn|US}}

| owner = U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

| dam_type = Concrete gravity

| dam_crosses = North Santiam River

| dam_length = {{Convert|1523.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| dam_height = {{Convert|463|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| dam_height_foundation=

| dam_height_thalweg =

| dam_elevation_crest = {{Convert|1580|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| dam_width_crest =

| dam_width_base =

| dam_volume =

| spillway_count =

| spillway_type =

| spillway_capacity =

| res_name = Detroit Lake

| res_capacity_total = {{Convert|455000|acre.ft|m3|abbr=on}}

| res_capacity_active = {{convert|321000|acre.ft|m3}}

| res_capacity_inactive=

| res_catchment = {{Convert|437|mi2|km2|abbr=on}}

| res_surface = {{Convert|3500|acre|km2|abbr=on}}

| res_max_length = {{Convert|9|mi|km|abbr=on}}

| res_max_width =

| res_max_depth =

| res_elevation = {{Convert|1569|ft|m|abbr=on}} (full)

| res_tidal_range =

| plant_name =

| plant_coordinates =

| plant_operator =

| plant_commission = 1953

| plant_decommission =

| plant_type = Conventional

| plant_turbines = 2 x 100 MW Francis-type{{cite web|author1=JP Duncan, TJ Carlson|title=Characterization of Fish Passage Conditions through a Francis Turbine, Spillway, and Regulating Outlet at Detroit Dam, Oregon, Using Sensor Fish, 2009|url=http://www.pnl.gov/main/publications/external/technical_reports/PNNL-20365.pdf|publisher=U.S. Army Corps of Engineers|accessdate=10 January 2015|date=May 2011}}

| plant_hydraulic_head =

| plant_capacity = 100 MW

| plant_annual_gen =

| website =

| extra =

}}

Detroit Dam is a gravity dam on the North Santiam River between Linn County and Marion County, Oregon. It is located in the Cascades, about {{Convert|5|mi|km|abbr=on}} west of the city of Detroit. It was constructed between 1949 and 1953 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The dam created {{convert|400|ft|m|adj=on}} deep Detroit Lake, more than 9 miles (14 km) long with 32 miles (51 km) of shoreline.{{cite web | url = {{Gnis3|1140930}} | title = Detroit Dam | work = Geographic Names Information System | publisher = United States Geological Survey | accessdate = 2006-05-03}}{{cite web|title=The Detroit and Big Cliff Dams|url=http://northsantiam.org/the-detroit-and-big-cliff-dams/|publisher=North Santiam Water Council|accessdate=10 January 2015|date=12 June 2012}}{{cite web|title=Building Strong® at Detroit Dam and Reservoir|url=https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Locations/Willamette-Valley/Detroit/|publisher=U.S. Army Corps or Engineers|access-date=10 January 2015}}

It is one of the dams authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938. {{cite book

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=j6RHAQAAIAAJ&q=%22detroit%20dam%22

| title = Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers on Civil Works Activities

| author = United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. Civil Works Directorate

| date = 1976

| page = 37-29

| quote = ... for construction under general authorization Willamette River Basin in 1938 Flood Act. 1948 Flood Control Act modified project to provide for installation of power generating facilities including construction of a reregulating dam ...

| accessdate = May 6, 2020

}} Construction was delayed largely due to World War II. The dam, dedicated on June 10, 1953,{{cite web

| url = http://www.nschamber.org/html/detroit.html

| title = Detroit

| publisher = North Santiam Chamber of Commerce

| accessdate = 2011-06-10

}} was authorized for the purposes of flood control, power generation, navigation, and irrigation. Other uses are fishery, water quality, and recreation. It was built in concert with the Big Cliff Dam downstream. {{cite encyclopedia

| url = https://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/detroit_dam/

| title = Detroit Dam

| author = Bob Reinhardt

| date = June 10, 2019

| encyclopedia = Oregon Encyclopedia

| accessdate = 2011-06-10

}}

In 2021, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determined that this dam was at risk of failing in a large earthquake in the Cascadia subduction zone, which would result in a "potentially catastrophic flood", which could potentially affect Oregon's state capital, Salem, located downstream.{{Cite web|last=Selsky|first=Andrew|date=2021-03-17|title=Oregon dam at risk of failing in large earthquake, officials say|url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-03-17/dam-oregon-at-risk-failing-in-large-earthquake|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-17|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317122116/https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-03-17/dam-oregon-at-risk-failing-in-large-earthquake |archive-date=2021-03-17 }} For this reason, the level of the reservoir was lowered by five feet, to reduce the stress on the concrete structure.{{Cite web|last=Urness|first=Zach|title=Detroit Dam earthquake concern to bring lower summer water levels in reservoir|url=https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2021/03/15/detroit-lake-water-level-earthquake-dam-breach-wildfires/4649045001/|access-date=2021-03-17|website=Statesman Journal|language=en-US}}

File:Detroit Dam - free-overflow spill test.jpg|Free-overflow spill test, 2013

File:Detroit Dam.jpg|Top of Dam