Spring Valley dam
Spring Valley
Spring Valley is a state-owned dam located in Latah, Idaho, designed to regulate the flow of Spring Valley Creek and Little Bear Creek. Built in 1962, this earth dam stands at a height of 47.4 feet and has a storage capacity of 721 acre-feet. With a surface area of 53 acres and a drainage area of 2.7 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
The dam's spillway, with a width of 44 feet, is designed to handle a maximum discharge of 190 cubic feet per second. Despite being rated as having a high hazard potential, the dam is currently in fair condition according to the last inspection conducted in August 2020. However, the risk assessment categorizes it as very high, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and efficiency of this vital water management structure.
Located in a picturesque setting near Bovard, Idaho, Spring Valley Dam is not only a functional piece of infrastructure but also a testament to the intricate balance between water resource management and environmental preservation. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the role of structures like Spring Valley becomes increasingly crucial in ensuring sustainable water management practices for the future.
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 Spring Valley -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Palouse River Nr Potlatch Id | 96 cfs | → |
| Paradise Cr At University Of Idaho At Moscow Id | 2 cfs | → |
| Potlatch River Bel Little Potlatch Cr Nr Spalding | 133 cfs | → |
| South Fork Palouse River At Pullman | 24 cfs | → |
| Clearwater River At Spalding Id | 34,500 cfs | → |
| Lapwai Creek Nr Lapwai Id | 31 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spring Valley.
Boat launches
- Spring Valley Road Latah County
- Harpers Bend Recreation Site
- Steelhead Park
- Big Eddy Trail Clearwater County
- Us 12 Clearwater County
- Dent Bridge Road Clearwater County
Campgrounds
- Camp Grizzly Boy Scout Camp
- Laird Park Campground
- Little Boulder Campground
- Giant White Pine Campground And Trailhead
- Damascus Group Camp
- Emerald Creek Campground
Track Spring Valley 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 Spring Valley
Where does the data for Spring Valley 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 Spring Valley.