A splash dam was a temporary wooden dam used to raise the water level in streams to float logs downstream to sawmills. [1] By impounding water and allowing it to be released on the log drive's schedule, these dams allowed many more logs to be brought to market than the natural flow of the stream allowed.

The structure before you is known as a “splash dam” (also referred to as “surge”, or “flash” dams), part of an old transportation system for the movement of logs and railroad ties from the forest to sawmills in the valley.

A splash dam was a temporary wooden dam used to raise the water level in streams so that logs could be floated downstream to the sawmills. When the water was released, logs that had been dumped into the pond behind the dam, together with others collected along the watercourse below the dam, were quickly flushed downstream.

This route features a beautiful trip along the Appalachian Trail to visit three gorgeous waterfalls. The first of the falls is the impressive, 80-foot Elk River Falls. Jones Falls can be found at the end of the left branch of the route, and Splash Dam Falls can …

Sep 25, 2023 · Researchers identified 232 splash dams in Western Oregon, where most research is centered, but they existed as far north as southeastern Alaska, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Oct 11, 2009 · Splash Dams were built to store logs. During the winter of 1903-04, logs were held in a 36-acre pond. In April, the logs were blasted loose when the main dam was opened. Less then half of the logs made it to the mills and four men lost their lives during the log drive. Later, the dams were utilized to float railroad ties.

Splash Dams were another source to move logs down the mountains especially during low water seasons. A wooden dam was built across a creek so a reservoir would form.

Dec 2, 2020 · In Oregon between 1880-1957 splash dams were a common tool to transport logs to downstream mills. Each point represents a known historic splash dam site. Each line represents a known section of river with log driving.

Aug 1, 2015 · The Tioga Dam was the largest splash dam in the Northwest. It was the first of what would grow to become 230 splash dams throughout western Oregon. Let's start big picture.

Severe scouring from splash damming was one of the earliest reported forms of widespread anthropogenic disturbance in streams of the Pacific Northwest, USA. Splash damming was a common method of log transport in western Oregon from the 1880s through the 1950s.