Horsethief dam
Horsethief
Horsethief is a state-owned dam located in the Payette River region of Idaho, specifically in Valley County. Constructed in 1967, this earth dam with a stone core stands at a height of 52.6 feet and has a storage capacity of 4900 acre-feet. The dam serves multiple purposes and is regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, with regular inspections and enforcement measures in place to ensure its safety and functionality.
The dam's spillway, which is uncontrolled, has a width of 17 feet and is designed to handle a maximum discharge of 310 cubic feet per second. Horsethief Dam is considered to have a significant hazard potential, but its overall condition is assessed as fair. Emergency action plans are in place, although details on their preparation and adherence to guidelines are not specified in the data. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, with a designated risk level of 3, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and management measures to mitigate potential hazards.
Horsethief Dam, situated along Horsethief Creek and Big Creek, plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. With its strategic location and storage capacity, the dam contributes to irrigation, flood control, and water supply needs. Enthusiasts interested in water resources and climate will find Horsethief a captivating case study of dam infrastructure in Idaho, highlighting the importance of regulatory oversight, maintenance, and risk assessment in ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resource systems.
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 Horsethief -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deadwood River Bl Deadwood Res Nr Lowman Id | 85 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Payette River Nr Crouch Id | 1,220 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork Payette River Ab Jumbo Cr Nr Mccall Id | 685 cfs | → |
| Nf Payette River Nr Banks Id | 2,610 cfs | → |
| Nf Payette River At Mccall Id | 1,980 cfs | → |
| Sf Payette River At Lowman Id | 3,570 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Horsethief.
Boat launches
- Main Street Valley County
- Lakeshore Drive 117, Cascade
- Valley County
- Cabarton Road Valley County
- National Forest Development Road 422 Valley County
Campgrounds
- Horsethief Reservoir Public Access - Ifg
- Horsethief Reservoir State Park
- Lake Cascade State Park
- French Creek Campground - Reserve
- Boiling Springs Rental Cabin
- Boiling Springs
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Kelly's Whitewater Park
- Cabarton
- Boiling Springs Cabin To Confluence With Fool Creek
- Headwaters To Deadwood Reservoir
- Confluence With Bell Creek To Boiling Springs Cabin
- Secesh To Main (The Canyon)
More reservoirs
Track Horsethief 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 Horsethief
Where does the data for Horsethief 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 Horsethief.