Sunset Palisades dam
Sunset Palisades
Sunset Palisades is a privately owned dam located in Nez Perce County, Idaho, with a primary purpose of irrigation. Built in 1973, this earth dam stands at a height of 41.2 feet and has a hydraulic height of 36.2 feet. The dam spans 275 feet in length and has a storage capacity of 41 acre-feet, serving as a crucial water resource for the region.
Managed by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, Sunset Palisades is regulated and inspected regularly to ensure its safety and functionality. With a significant hazard potential and a fair condition assessment as of October 2017, this dam is considered to have moderate risk (3) according to a risk assessment. The dam's spillway, with a width of 21 feet, is uncontrolled, allowing for a maximum discharge of 296 cubic feet per second.
As a key component of the water infrastructure in the area, Sunset Palisades plays a vital role in providing irrigation water to support agricultural activities. Its strategic location near the Snake River and unnamed streams underscores its importance in water management and climate resiliency efforts. With ongoing monitoring and risk management measures in place, Sunset Palisades continues to contribute to the sustainable use of water resources in Nez Perce County, Idaho.
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 Sunset Palisades -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Asotin Creek At Asotin | 86 cfs | → |
| Webb Creek Near Sweetwater Id | -999,999 cfs | → |
| Clearwater River At Spalding Id | 33,300 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater Creek At Mouth At Sweetwater Id | 8 cfs | → |
| Lapwai Creek Nr Lapwai Id | 33 cfs | → |
| Asotin Creek Below Confluence Near Asotin | 54 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sunset Palisades.
Boat launches
- Riverside Drive 2213-2249, Clarkston
- 1st Street, Asotin
- Steelhead Park
- Beaver Road Nez Perce County
- Snake River Road Asotin County
- Waha Lake Road Nez Perce County
Campgrounds
- Chief Timothy Campground
- Lime Hill Campsite
- Pataha Campground
- Wenatchee Guard Station
- Wild Goose Campsite
- Wikiup Spring Campground
Track Sunset Palisades 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 Sunset Palisades
Where does the data for Sunset Palisades 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 Sunset Palisades.