Mountain Home dam
Mountain Home
Mountain Home is a privately owned dam located in Elmore County, Idaho, specifically in the city of Mountain Home. Completed in 1884, this earth dam stands at a height of 47.7 feet and has a hydraulic height of 42.4 feet, serving as a critical water resource for the area. With a storage capacity of 5,468 acre-feet and a surface area of 406 acres, Mountain Home plays a crucial role in managing water from Rattlesnake Creek and Canyon Creek, ensuring water security for the region.
Despite being a historic structure, Mountain Home is regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, with regular inspections and enforcement measures in place to maintain its integrity. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 75 feet, and it features a slide (sluice gate) as its outlet gates. The dam poses a high hazard potential, but is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in June 2019. With a moderate risk rating, Mountain Home continues to be a key component in the region's water management infrastructure, providing essential services for the community.
As climate change impacts water resources and infrastructure, the maintenance and monitoring of structures like Mountain Home become increasingly vital. With a long history of service and a crucial role in water management for Elmore County, this dam stands as a testament to the resilience and importance of water resource management in the face of evolving climate challenges. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to recognize the significance of structures like Mountain Home in ensuring sustainable water security for communities now and in the future.
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 Mountain Home -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Canyon Cr At Oregon Trail Xing Nr Mountain Home Id | 32 cfs | → |
| Sf Boise River At Anderson Ranch Dam Id | 1,600 cfs | → |
| Snake River At King Hill Id | 9,200 cfs | → |
| Bruneau River Nr Hot Spring Id | 272 cfs | → |
| Sf Boise River At Neal Bridge Nr Arrowrock Dam Id | 360 cfs | → |
| Sf Boise River Nr Featherville Id | 2,650 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mountain Home.
Boat launches
- National Forest Development Road 113 Elmore County
- Danskin Floatboat Access
- Camas Reservoir Road Elmore County
- Fh61 Elmore County
- Pine Campground Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Hot Springs Creek Reservoir
- Adin Hall Reservoir
- Mountain Home Afb Military
- Tailwaters Campground
- Bruneau Dunes State Park
- Blair Trail Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Anderson Ranch Dam To Confluence With Mennecke Creek
- Mennecke Creek To Confluence With Trail Creek
- Snake River
- Bruneau (Indian Hot Springs To Bruneau)
- Trail Creek To Confluence With Crank Creek
- Boise Nf Boundary To Confluence With Willow Creek
More reservoirs
Track Mountain Home 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 Mountain Home
Where does the data for Mountain Home 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 High 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 Mountain Home.