Big Cliff: N. Fork Santiam River, OR

The North Santiam canyon is rocky, narrow, and steep where Big Cliff Dam was constructed.  For that reason, Big Cliff is a concrete dam, rather than an earth and rockfill embankment structure, like most Corps dams in the Willamette Valley Project. Big Cliff’s authorized primary purposes are flood risk management, power generation, water quality improvement, irrigation, fish and wildlife habitat and recreation.