Soda Creek Main Dam dam
Soda Creek Main Dam
Soda Creek Main Dam, also known as Soda Creek Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Soda Springs, Idaho. Built in 1967 by designer Stoker Johmson, this earth dam stands at a height of 36.3 feet and has a hydraulic height of 31.3 feet. The dam's primary purpose is listed as "Other," with a storage capacity of 2,500 acre-feet.
Situated on Soda Creek, a tributary of the Bear River, the dam spans a length of 1,980 feet and has a surface area of 197 acres. The spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 25 feet, and the outlet gates consist of slide (sluice gate) mechanisms. The dam's hazard potential is categorized as high, with a fair condition assessment as of the last inspection in July 2019.
Despite its moderate risk assessment score, the Soda Creek Main Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area, providing storage and regulation for the surrounding watershed. With its regulatory oversight by the Idaho Department of Water Resources and a history of state inspection and enforcement, this dam serves as a vital piece of infrastructure in the region's water supply and climate resilience efforts.
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 Soda Creek Main Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackfoot River Ab Reservoir Nr Henry Id | 62 cfs | → |
| Grays Lk Div To Blackfoot R Basin Nr Wayan Id | 5 cfs | → |
| Bear River At Pescadero | 894 cfs | → |
| Portneuf River At Topaz Id | 201 cfs | → |
| Crow C Nr Fairview Wyo | 53 cfs | → |
| Grays Lake Outlet Nr Herman Id | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Soda Creek Main Dam.
Campgrounds
- Caribou County Park
- Blackfoot Reservoir Campground
- Blackfoot Reservoir
- Mill Canyon
- Mill Canyon Campground
- Summit View Campground
Paddle runs
- Black Canyon - Highway 34 To Grace Powerhouse
- Inlet To Marsh On Spring Creek To Outlet Of Marsh On Spring Creek
- Blackfoot Wolverine Canyon Run
- Periodic Spring To Upper Dam
- Source To Periodic Spring
- Mainstem West Of Palisades Reservoir Including North Fork And Deadman Creek To Palisades Reservoir
Track Soda Creek Main Dam 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 Soda Creek Main Dam
Where does the data for Soda Creek Main Dam 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 Soda Creek Main Dam.