Blue Creek Upper dam
Blue Creek Upper
Blue Creek Upper is a privately owned dam located in Fremont, Idaho, with a rich history dating back to its completion in 1920. This earth dam stands at a height of 18.4 feet and has a hydraulic height of 14.3 feet, serving the crucial function of regulating the flow of Blue Creek and Sand Creek. With a storage capacity of 67 acre-feet and a surface area of 12 acres, the dam plays a vital role in managing water resources in the area.
Despite its age, Blue Creek Upper is deemed to have a low hazard potential and is assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in 2016. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 10 feet, and although it has not undergone significant modifications over the years, it continues to meet state regulatory standards for inspection, enforcement, and permitting. Its moderate risk assessment rating highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and potential risk management measures to ensure the safety and effectiveness of this essential water resource infrastructure in Idaho.
Overall, Blue Creek Upper stands as a testament to early 20th-century engineering and serves as a reminder of the crucial role dams play in water resource management and climate resilience. With its historical significance, operational functionality, and regulatory compliance, this dam remains a key component of the water infrastructure in Fremont County, Idaho, contributing to flood control, irrigation, and environmental conservation efforts in the region.
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 Blue Creek Upper -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Henrys Fork Nr Ashton Id | 939 cfs | → |
| Falls River Nr Chester Id | 661 cfs | → |
| Falls River Nr Ashton Id | 743 cfs | → |
| Henrys Fork Nr Island Park Id | 490 cfs | → |
| Henrys Fork At St Anthony Id | 654 cfs | → |
| Teton River Nr St Anthony Id | 948 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blue Creek Upper.
Boat launches
- Riverside Campground Road Fremont County
- East Hatchery Ford Boating Site
- Old Highway Island Park
- Island Park Boating Site
- Fremont County
- Forest Road 413 Fremont County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Pinehaven Subdivision To Riverside Campground
- Northern Boundary Of Harriman Park To Pinehaven Subdivision
- Box Canyon Summer Homes To Northern Boundary Of Harriman Park
- Island Park Dam To Box Canyon Summer Homes
- Riverside Campground To Confluence With Warm River
- Warm River Springs To Confluence With Henrys Fork
Track Blue Creek Upper 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 Blue Creek Upper
Where does the data for Blue Creek Upper 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 Low 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 Blue Creek Upper.