Orchard dam
Orchard
Orchard, also known as Indian Creek Reservoir, is a state-owned dam located in Ada County, Idaho. Completed in 1902, this earth dam stands at a height of 42.8 feet and has a hydraulic height of 34 feet. With a storage capacity of 2035 acre-feet and a surface area of 195 acres, Orchard serves as a vital water resource for the surrounding area. The dam is situated on Indian Creek, a tributary of the Boise River, and has a drainage area of 51 square miles.
Despite its importance, Orchard has a significant hazard potential and a poor condition assessment, as of its last inspection in May 2018. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 32 feet, and it features a slide (sluice gate) for outlet gates. With a moderate risk assessment score of 3 out of 5, Orchard is regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources and undergoes regular permitting, inspections, and enforcement to ensure its safety and functionality. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Orchard represents a critical infrastructure piece in the region's water management system, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to protect against potential hazards and ensure continued water supply for the community.
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 Orchard -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Creek Bel Fivemile Cr Nr Boise Id | 1 cfs | → |
| Mores Creek Ab Robie Creek Nr Arrowrock Dam Id | 218 cfs | → |
| Canyon Cr At Oregon Trail Xing Nr Mountain Home Id | 46 cfs | → |
| Sf Boise River At Neal Bridge Nr Arrowrock Dam Id | 360 cfs | → |
| Snake River Nr Murphy Id | 4,740 cfs | → |
| Boise River At Glenwood Bridge Nr Boise Id | 1,740 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Orchard.
Boat launches
- Robie Creek Road Boise County
- South Swan Falls Road Ada County
- Danskin Floatboat Access
- National Forest Development Road 113 Elmore County
- Celebration Park
Campgrounds
- Indian Creek Reservoir
- Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
- Macks Creek
- Gowen Field Military
- Swan Falls - Idaho Power
- Swan Falls Campground
Paddle runs
- Trail Creek To Confluence With Crank Creek
- Mennecke Creek To Confluence With Trail Creek
- Anderson Ranch Dam To Confluence With Mennecke Creek
- Boise Nf Boundary To Confluence With Willow Creek
- Confluence With Rabbit Creek To Confluence With Middle Fork Boise River
- Confluence With Granite Creek To Confluence With Pine Creek
Track Orchard 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 Orchard
Where does the data for Orchard 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 Orchard.