Little Canyon dam
Little Canyon
Little Canyon, also known as Morrow Reservoir, is a private water resource nestled in the scenic Elmore County, Idaho. Completed in 1919, this earth and stone dam stands at a height of 29.9 feet and has a capacity of 575 acre-feet. Situated on Little Canyon Creek and the Snake River, this dam serves multiple purposes, with a controlled spillway width of 17 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 57 cubic feet per second.
With a significant hazard potential and a fair condition assessment, Little Canyon Dam is regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources. The dam has a drainage area of 1.8 square miles and a surface area of 60 acres, making it a crucial water resource in the region. Despite its age, the dam has undergone regular inspections, with the last assessment conducted in May 2018 to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the historical significance and environmental impact of Little Canyon Dam. As a vital infrastructure in the region, it not only provides water storage but also serves as a protective measure against potential flooding. With its very high risk assessment and state-regulated status, this dam showcases the importance of proper monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and sustainability of our water resources in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Little Canyon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Snake River At King Hill Id | 5,980 cfs | → |
| Sf Boise River At Anderson Ranch Dam Id | 1,580 cfs | → |
| Bruneau River Nr Hot Spring Id | 144 cfs | → |
| Canyon Cr At Oregon Trail Xing Nr Mountain Home Id | 46 cfs | → |
| N Channel Snake R @ Upper Salmon Falls Nr Hagerman | 79 cfs | → |
| Malad River Nr Gooding Id | 109 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Canyon.
Boat launches
- Camas Reservoir Road Elmore County
- Fh61 Elmore County
- National Forest Development Road 113 Elmore County
- Danskin Floatboat Access
Campgrounds
- Morrow Reservoir Dispersed Recreation Site
- Blair Trail Reservoir
- Three Island Crossing State Park
- Emigrant Reservoir Dispersed Recreation Site
- Adin Hall Reservoir
- Hot Springs Creek Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Snake River
- Bruneau (Indian Hot Springs To Bruneau)
- Anderson Ranch Dam To Confluence With Mennecke Creek
- Mennecke Creek To Confluence With Trail Creek
More reservoirs
Track Little Canyon 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 Little Canyon
Where does the data for Little Canyon 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 Little Canyon.