Granite Lake dam
Granite Lake
Granite Lake, also known as Upper Granite Lake, is a privately owned reservoir located in McCall, Idaho. The dam was completed in 1949 for irrigation purposes, with a primary dam type of earth and core types of stone. The dam stands at a height of 24.8 feet with a hydraulic height of 20.5 feet, creating a storage capacity of 2900 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 195 acres. The reservoir is fed by Lake Creek East Fork and Fisher Creek, with a drainage area of 2.19 square miles.
The dam at Granite Lake is regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. The spillway, which is uncontrolled, has a width of 10 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 73 cubic feet per second. The dam has been assessed to have a significant hazard potential and is currently in fair condition as of the last inspection in July 2018. The risk assessment for Granite Lake is moderate, with a risk management plan in place to address any potential issues.
Located in the beautiful Valley County, Idaho, Granite Lake offers a vital water resource for irrigation in the region. As a key component of the local water infrastructure, this reservoir plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities in the area. With its picturesque setting and important function, Granite Lake serves as a fascinating site for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore and study.
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 Granite Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nf Payette River At Mccall Id | 1,430 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork Payette River Ab Jumbo Cr Nr Mccall Id | 588 cfs | → |
| Sf Salmon River Nr Krassel Ranger Station Id | 2,190 cfs | → |
| Little Salmon River At Riggins Id | 2,420 cfs | → |
| Johnson Creek At Yellow Pine Id | 2,140 cfs | → |
| Snake River At Hells Canyon Dam Id-Or State Line | 19,200 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Granite Lake.
Boat launches
- Granite Lake Dam Road Valley County
- Fisher Creek Road Adams County
- Grouse Creek Campground Road Adams County
- Warren Wagon Road Mccall
- Salmon River Road Idaho County
- National Forest Development Road 1614 Idaho County
Campgrounds
- Granite Lake Camping Area
- Upper Payette Lake
- Upper Payette Lake Campground
- Upper Payette Lake Group Campground
- Upper Payette Lake Dispersed Camping Area
- Brundage Reservoir Camping Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters At Hard Creek Lake To Payette Nf Boundary
- Headwaters To Confluence With Vance Creek At Payette Nf Boundary
- Hard Creek
- Hazard Creek
- Payette Nf Boundary On Lake Creek (Just West Marshall Lake) To To And Including Chinook Campground
- Chinook Campground To Ponderosa Campground
More reservoirs
Track Granite Lake 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 Granite Lake
Where does the data for Granite Lake 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 Granite Lake.