Little Wood River dam
Little Wood River
Little Wood River, located in Blaine County, Idaho, is a federal irrigation project managed by the Bureau of Reclamation. The primary purpose of the Little Wood River dam, completed in 1941, is to provide irrigation water for agricultural activities in the region. The dam, standing at a height of 129 feet and with a length of 3100 feet, has a storage capacity of 33,300 acre-feet and serves a drainage area of 286 square miles.
The dam's spillway, which is uncontrolled and 250 feet wide, has a maximum discharge capacity of 9,200 cubic feet per second. With a surface area of 590 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area, ensuring a stable supply of water for irrigation purposes. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the condition assessment of the dam is currently not available, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and reliability for the future. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in the region can appreciate the significance of the Little Wood River dam in sustaining agricultural activities and managing water resources effectively.
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 Little Wood River -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Wood River Nr Carey Id | 229 cfs | → |
| Little Wood River Ab High Five Creek Nr Carey Id | 187 cfs | → |
| Silver Creek At Sportsman Access Nr Picabo Id | 110 cfs | → |
| Big Wood R At S Broadford Bridge Nr Bellevue | 821 cfs | → |
| Big Wood River At Hailey Id Total Flow | 848 cfs | → |
| Big Wood River At Stanton Crossing Nr Bellevue Id | 252 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Wood River.
Campgrounds
- Little Wood River - Usbr
- Fish Creek Reservoir
- Silver Creek North
- Silver Creek South
- Copper Creek/Garfield Campground
- Federal Gulch Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Section 7
- Headwaters To Confluence With Little Wood River
- Headwaters To Confluence With West Fork Of East Fork Big Lost River
- Headwaters To Confluence With Button Creek
- Headwaters To Confluence With West Fork Big Lost River
More reservoirs
Track Little Wood River 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 Little Wood River
Where does the data for Little Wood River 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 Little Wood River.