Sheep Creek dam
Sheep Creek
Sheep Creek is a privately owned irrigation structure located in Bear Lake, Idaho. Built in 1951, this Earth dam stands at 17.9 feet high and has a storage capacity of 213 acre-feet. With a drainage area of 11.8 square miles, Sheep Creek plays a crucial role in providing water for agricultural purposes in the region.
Despite its importance, Sheep Creek is currently rated as having poor condition and a low hazard potential. However, with regular inspections and a moderate risk assessment score of 3, efforts are being made to ensure the safety and functionality of this vital water resource. The dam has a spillway width of 14 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 74 cubic feet per second, making it a key infrastructure for managing water flow in the area.
Managed by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, Sheep Creek serves as a reminder of the intricate balance between water resources and climate resilience. With its location in a remote area and its proximity to the Bear River, this dam is a testament to the importance of maintaining and safeguarding our water infrastructure for future generations of farmers and communities dependent on its water supply.
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 Sheep Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear River At Border | 218 cfs | → |
| Bear River Below Smiths Fork | 282 cfs | → |
| Smiths Fork Near Border | 359 cfs | → |
| Bear River At Pescadero | 894 cfs | → |
| Bear River Below Pixley Dam | 1 cfs | → |
| Hams Fork Below Pole Creek | 132 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sheep Creek.
Campgrounds
- Montpelier Canyon
- Montpellier Campground Canyon
- Montpelier Canyon Campground
- Montpelier Creek Koa Journey
- Bear Lake State Park
- Kelley Guard Station
Paddle runs
- Raymond Creek
- Huff Creek
- Confluence With Snowslide Creek To West Boundary Of Patented Mining Claim Just Inside The Caribou Nf Boundary
- Inlet To Marsh On Spring Creek To Outlet Of Marsh On Spring Creek
- Salt River Trailhead To Nf Boundary
- Source To Salt River Trailhead
More reservoirs
Track Sheep Creek 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 Sheep Creek
Where does the data for Sheep Creek 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 Sheep Creek.