Williams dam
Williams
Williams is a privately owned dam located in Twin Falls, Idaho, along the North Cottonwood Creek and Cottonwood Creek. Built in 1952 for irrigation purposes, this earth dam stands at a height of 52.5 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 1025 acre-feet. With a significant hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Williams poses a moderate risk that is being managed through regular inspections and emergency preparedness plans.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and slide gates for outlet control, with a drainage area of 3.3 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 3400 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, Williams continues to serve its purpose efficiently, storing water for agricultural irrigation in the region. Its inspection frequency of 4 times a year ensures that any maintenance or repairs needed are promptly addressed, maintaining its operational integrity for the benefit of the surrounding community.
With the Sacramento District overseeing its regulation and operation, Williams remains a vital water resource infrastructure in Idaho. Its strategic location and design contribute to the sustainable management of water resources in the area, showcasing the importance of maintaining and monitoring such critical infrastructure for the resilience of water supply systems in the face of changing climate conditions.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Williams -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon River Canal Co Canal Nr Rogerson Id | 20 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Ab Hwy 30/93 Xing At Twin Falls Id | 55 cfs | → |
| Devils Washbowl Spring Nr Kimberly 10s 18e 04aad1s | 8 cfs | → |
| Snake River Nr Twin Falls Id | 3,800 cfs | → |
| Trapper Creek Nr Oakley Id | 23 cfs | → |
| Blue Lakes Spring Bl Pump Plant Nr Twin Falls Id | 149 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Williams.
Boat launches
- Murtaugh Boat Launch
- Twin Falls Grade 3670, Twin Falls County
- Twin Falls
- Salmon Falls Creek Boat Launch
- Upper Salmon Falls Creek Boat Launch
- Cedar Creek Reservoir
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Williams in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Williams
Where does the data for Williams come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Williams.