Swan Falls dam
Swan Falls
Swan Falls, located in Ada County, Idaho, is a private-owned hydroelectric dam on the Snake River with a primary purpose of generating electricity. Constructed in 1901, this concrete gravity dam stands at a height of 88 feet and spans 1150 feet in length. With a normal storage capacity of 7425 acre-feet, Swan Falls also serves recreational purposes in addition to its hydroelectric function.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Swan Falls is regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, ensuring proper inspection, permitting, and enforcement measures are in place. The dam has a spillway width of 434 feet and features 12 Tainter radial gates for water control. Despite its high hazard potential, the condition assessment of Swan Falls is currently not available, reflecting the need for ongoing risk assessment and management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of this critical water resource infrastructure.
Swan Falls plays a crucial role in water resource management and energy production in Idaho, serving as a key asset in the state's infrastructure. With its historic significance and continued operational importance, Swan Falls stands as a testament to the intersection of human innovation, environmental stewardship, and sustainable energy practices in the face of changing climate dynamics.
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 Swan Falls -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Snake River Nr Murphy Id | 4,740 cfs | → |
| Boise River At Glenwood Bridge Nr Boise Id | 1,740 cfs | → |
| Boise River South Channel At Eagle Id | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood Creek Bel Fivemile Cr Nr Boise Id | 1 cfs | → |
| Eagle Drain At Eagle | 45 cfs | → |
| Fifteenmile Creek Nr Midland Blvd Nr Middleton | 76 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Swan Falls.
Boat launches
- South Swan Falls Road Ada County
- Celebration Park
- Marsing Murphy Road 12985, Owyhee County
- Upper Embankment Road Canyon County
Campgrounds
- Swan Falls - Idaho Power
- Swan Falls Campground
- Celebration County Park
- Indian Creek Reservoir
- Gowen Field Military
- Silver City
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Swan Falls 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 Swan Falls
Where does the data for Swan Falls 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 Swan Falls.