Deadwood dam
Deadwood
Deadwood is a federal-owned concrete dam located in Garden Valley, Idaho, along the Deadwood River South Fork Payette River. Built in 1931 by the Bureau of Reclamation, this structure primarily serves for hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and recreation purposes. Standing at 165 feet tall with a 749-foot length, Deadwood has a storage capacity of 191,600 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 11,300 cubic feet per second.
With its high hazard potential and moderate risk assessment rating, Deadwood is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Idaho Department of Water Resources. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 100 feet and is equipped with valve gates for water release. Despite being in good operational condition, Deadwood underwent modifications in 2004 to strengthen its foundation and seismic resilience, ensuring its continued safety and functionality for water resource and climate enthusiasts to admire and appreciate in the years to come.
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 Deadwood -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deadwood River Bl Deadwood Res Nr Lowman Id | 302 cfs | → |
| Sf Payette River At Lowman Id | 883 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Payette River Nr Crouch Id | 223 cfs | → |
| Nf Payette River Nr Banks Id | 1,850 cfs | → |
| Valley Creek At Stanley Id | 216 cfs | → |
| Payette River Nr Horseshoe Bend Id | 3,490 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Deadwood.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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More reservoirs
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About Deadwood
Where does the data for Deadwood 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 below 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.
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.