Salmon Falls Creek dam
Salmon Falls Creek
Salmon Falls Creek is a key water resource in Twin Falls, Idaho, serving the primary purpose of irrigation. This privately owned structure, completed in 1956, stands at a dam height of 12.7 meters and has a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet. The creek, which flows into the Snake River, covers a drainage area of 2170 acres and boasts a controlled spillway with a width of 11 meters.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Salmon Falls Creek poses a very high risk due to its location and the potential impact of its failure. The structure is regulated and enforced by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, with regular inspections conducted every 5 years to ensure its safety and functionality. While no emergency action plan (EAP) is currently in place, the structure meets regulatory guidelines and has not undergone any modifications in recent years.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in the region will find Salmon Falls Creek to be a fascinating example of water management for irrigation purposes. With its multi-arch concrete dam design and historical significance dating back to the mid-20th century, this structure plays a vital role in the local agricultural landscape. Its risk assessment highlights the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and reliability of this essential water resource.
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 Salmon Falls Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon Falls Creek Nr Hagerman Id | 51 cfs | → |
| Snake River Nr Buhl Id | 1,580 cfs | → |
| N Channel Snake R @ Upper Salmon Falls Nr Hagerman | 79 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Ab Hwy 30/93 Xing At Twin Falls Id | 59 cfs | → |
| Malad River Nr Gooding Id | 109 cfs | → |
| Snake River Nr Twin Falls Id | 398 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Salmon Falls Creek.
Track Salmon Falls 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 Salmon Falls Creek
Where does the data for Salmon Falls 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 Salmon Falls Creek.