Thompson No 1 Main Dam dam
Thompson No 1 Main Dam
Thompson No 1 Main Dam, located in Nez Perce, Idaho, is a privately owned structure built in 1967 for irrigation purposes. This Earth-core, Stone foundation dam stands at a height of 17.4 feet, with a hydraulic height of 15.1 feet, providing a storage capacity of 54 acre-feet. The dam spans 580 feet in length and covers a surface area of 6.1 acres, serving the local community's water needs from Springs Little Canyon Creek.
Despite its fair condition assessment as of July 2017, the dam poses a significant hazard potential, with a high risk rating of 2. Regular state inspections and enforcement ensure its compliance with safety regulations, with the Idaho Department of Water Resources serving as the primary regulatory agency. The dam lacks a spillway, indicating a need for potential risk management measures to mitigate any emergencies and safeguard the surrounding area from inundation.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the strategic importance of Thompson No 1 Main Dam in sustaining agricultural activities in the region, while also recognizing the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its long-term safety and functionality. With its picturesque location and vital role in water management, this dam serves as a critical piece of infrastructure that highlights the intricate balance between human development and environmental conservation in the face of changing climatic 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 Thompson No 1 Main Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Canyon Creek Nr Peck Id | 24 cfs | → |
| Clearwater River Nr Peck Id | 32,900 cfs | → |
| Clearwater River At Orofino Id | 29,100 cfs | → |
| Lolo Creek Nr Greer Id | 771 cfs | → |
| Potlatch River Bel Little Potlatch Cr Nr Spalding | 109 cfs | → |
| Lapwai Creek Nr Lapwai Id | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Thompson No 1 Main Dam.
Boat launches
- Us 12 Clearwater County
- Harpers Bend Recreation Site
- State Highway 7 Orofino
- Northfork Drive Clearwater County
- Clearwater County
Campgrounds
- Pink House Recreation Site
- Damascus Group Camp
- Cold Springs Group Camp
- Little Boulder Campground
- Partridge Creek Campground
- Riverfront Park - Kamiah
Paddle runs
- Clearwater River
- Clearwater River To Red And American Rivers Near Elk City
- Lolo Creek
- Dworshak Reservoir, Sec. 19, T41n, R5e To Forest Boundary, Sec. 33, T42n, R6e
- Snake River - 4.01
- The Confluence With The Grande Ronde River To Ends In The Slack Water Of The Lower Granite Reservoir, Located One Half Mile Above The Town Of Asotin, Washington
More reservoirs
Track Thompson No 1 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 Thompson No 1 Main Dam
Where does the data for Thompson No 1 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 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 Thompson No 1 Main Dam.