Surmeier dam
Surmeier
Surmeier, a privately owned dam located in Payette, Idaho, is regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources. This earth dam, primarily constructed with stone core and rock and soil foundations, stands at a height of 32.1 feet and has a hydraulic height of 26.5 feet. Completed in 1978, Surmeier serves various purposes and has a storage capacity of 26 acre-feet, with a surface area of 3 acres and a drainage area of 0.2 square miles.
With a significant hazard potential and a fair condition assessment as of June 2019, Surmeier is subject to regular inspections every four years to ensure its structural integrity. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway type with a width of 3 feet and slide (sluice gate) outlet gates. While the risk assessment for Surmeier indicates a moderate level of risk, no specific risk management measures or inundation maps have been prepared for the dam.
Owned by private entities and situated near the Little Whitley Gulch Creek and Snake River, Surmeier plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. The dam, under state jurisdiction and regulation, continues to be monitored for any potential risks and undergoes inspections to maintain its operational safety and efficiency.
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 Surmeier -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Payette River Nr Payette Id | 5,040 cfs | → |
| Snake River At Nyssa Or | 7,400 cfs | → |
| Sand Run Gulch Nr Parma Id | 113 cfs | → |
| Boise River Nr Parma Id | 1,590 cfs | → |
| Malheur River Below Nevada Dam Near Vale Or | 23 cfs | → |
| Payette River Nr Letha Id | 4,240 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Surmeier.
Boat launches
- Ontario State Park
- Nyssa River Park
- Big Bend Launch Site
- Look Lane 21723, Canyon County
- Oasis Rv Park
- Bully Creek Campground
Campgrounds
- Parma City Park - Old Fort Boise
- Cow Hollow Park
- Paddock Reservoir
- Catfish Junction Rv Park
- Oasis
- Bully Creek Reservoir County Park
Track Surmeier 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 Surmeier
Where does the data for Surmeier 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 Surmeier.