Barber dam
Barber
Barber is a privately owned timber crib dam located on the Boise River in Boise, Idaho. Built in 1904, the dam stands at 26 feet high with a length of 2000 feet, providing hydroelectric power to the region. Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Barber has a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 37,922 cubic feet per second.
Despite its age, Barber has a low hazard potential and is considered to have moderate risk with a moderate (3) risk assessment rating. The dam has not undergone a recent condition assessment, but regular inspections are conducted every three years to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. In case of emergencies, an emergency action plan is in place, although details on its preparation and guidelines meeting are not available.
Barber's historical significance in providing hydroelectric power to the region, combined with its relatively low hazard potential, makes it a key structure in water resource management and climate resilience efforts. As climate change continues to impact water resources, ensuring the safety and sustainability of dams like Barber is crucial for long-term water security in the region.
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 Barber -- 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 | → |
| Boise River At Glenwood Bridge Nr Boise Id | 1,740 cfs | → |
| Boise River South Channel At Eagle Id | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Eagle Drain At Eagle | 45 cfs | → |
| Dry Creek Nr Eagle Id | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Barber.
Boat launches
- Robie Creek Road Boise County
- South Swan Falls Road Ada County
- Upper Embankment Road Canyon County
- Celebration Park
- Parnell Recreation Site
Campgrounds
- Gowen Field Military
- Macks Creek
- Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
- Indian Creek Reservoir
- Shafer Butte Cg And Group Sites - Reserve - Tent
- Shafer Butte
Paddle runs
- Boise Nf Boundary To Confluence With Willow Creek
- Trail Creek To Confluence With Crank Creek
- Confluence With Granite Creek To Confluence With Pine Creek
- Mennecke Creek To Confluence With Trail Creek
- Confluence With Rabbit Creek To Confluence With Middle Fork Boise River
- Anderson Ranch Dam To Confluence With Mennecke Creek
Track Barber 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 Barber
Where does the data for Barber 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 Barber.