Cedar Creek dam
Cedar Creek
Located in Twin Falls, Idaho, Cedar Creek is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1920 with a primary purpose of irrigation. Spanning 400 feet in length and standing at a height of 90 feet, Cedar Creek has a storage capacity of 30,000 acre-feet and covers an impressive surface area of 1050 acres. The dam is situated on the Cedar Creek and Salmon Falls Creek rivers, providing essential water resources for the surrounding area.
With a hazard potential classified as high and a fair condition assessment, Cedar Creek is closely regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and a slide gate for water release, with a maximum discharge capacity of 235 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, Cedar Creek plays a vital role in water management and irrigation in the region, highlighting the importance of maintaining and monitoring its structural integrity for the safety of surrounding communities and ecosystems.
As a key component of the local water infrastructure, Cedar Creek serves as a critical resource for agricultural activities and supports the overall sustainability of the area. With regular inspections and enforcement measures in place, the dam continues to operate effectively, showcasing the importance of responsible water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Cedar Creek represents a fascinating example of how human-made structures can harmoniously interact with natural water systems to support both human needs and environmental health.
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 Cedar Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon River Canal Co Canal Nr Rogerson Id | 20 cfs | → |
| Salmon Falls Creek Nr San Jacinto Nv | 24 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Ab Hwy 30/93 Xing At Twin Falls Id | 59 cfs | → |
| Snake River Nr Buhl Id | 1,580 cfs | → |
| Salmon Falls Creek Nr Hagerman Id | 51 cfs | → |
| Snake River Nr Twin Falls Id | 398 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cedar Creek.
Boat launches
- Cedar Creek Reservoir
- Upper Salmon Falls Creek Boat Launch
- Salmon Falls Creek Boat Launch
- Jarbidge River Launch Site
Campgrounds
- Lud Drexler Park
- Lud Drexler Park Campground
- Lud Drexler Park - Salmon Reservoir
- Greys Landing Recreation Site
- Big Sand Bay Recreation Site
- Norton Bay Recreation Site
Paddle runs
Track Cedar Creek 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 Cedar Creek
Where does the data for Cedar Creek 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 Cedar Creek.