Tyson West dam
Tyson West
Tyson West, located in Owyhee, Idaho, is a privately owned irrigation dam constructed in 1967 by the USDA NRCS. The dam stands at a height of 42 feet and has a hydraulic height of 39.5 feet, with a length of 480 feet and a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet. Overlooking Reynolds Creek and the Snake River, Tyson West serves the primary purpose of irrigation, benefiting the surrounding agricultural community.
Managed by the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR), Tyson West is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its safe operation and compliance with state guidelines. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 24 feet, and its hazard potential is rated as low, with a fair condition assessment as of the last inspection in July 2019. Despite its moderate risk level, Tyson West plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and water availability for local stakeholders.
As a part of the Sacramento District and designed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Tyson West represents a pivotal infrastructure for water storage and distribution in the area. With its earth dam type and stone core, the dam withstands the test of time while supporting the needs of the community. Its location, design, and operational efficiency make Tyson West a key player in the water resource management landscape, showcasing the importance of sustainable infrastructure for climate resilience and agricultural sustainability in 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 Tyson West -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Snake River Nr Murphy Id | 8,240 cfs | → |
| Boise River At Caldwell | 1,470 cfs | → |
| Mason Creek Nr Caldwell Id | 46 cfs | → |
| Mason Creek At Caldwell Id | 137 cfs | → |
| Fifteenmile Creek Nr Midland Blvd Nr Middleton | 53 cfs | → |
| W Hartley Gulch Nr Caldwell Id | 31 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tyson West.
Boat launches
- Marsing Murphy Road 12985, Owyhee County
- Celebration Park
- South Swan Falls Road Ada County
- Upper Embankment Road Canyon County
- Leslie Gulch Road Malheur County
Campgrounds
- Celebration County Park
- Silver City
- Silver City Campground
- Swan Falls Campground
- Swan Falls - Idaho Power
- Succor Creek State Natural Area
Paddle runs
Track Tyson West 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 Tyson West
Where does the data for Tyson West 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 Low 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 Tyson West.