Blacks Creek dam
Blacks Creek
Blacks Creek, also known as Ten-Mile Creek Dam, is a privately owned water structure located in Meridian, Idaho. Completed in 1915, this earth dam stands at a height of 51.5 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 3,640 acre-feet. The dam plays a crucial role in regulating the flow of Blacks Creek and Tenmile Creek, with a controlled spillway width of 38 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 1,200 cubic feet per second.
With a drainage area of 39 square miles, Blacks Creek Dam serves a vital purpose in managing water resources in the region. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of August 2020. The risk assessment for this structure is categorized as very high, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued safety and functionality for the surrounding community.
As a key component of Idaho's water infrastructure, Blacks Creek Dam is subject to state regulation and inspection by the Idaho Department of Water Resources. With a history dating back over a century, this dam remains a critical asset for water resource management in the Ada County area, highlighting the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience 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 Blacks Creek -- 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 | → |
| Snake River Nr Murphy Id | 4,740 cfs | → |
| Eagle Drain At Eagle | 45 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blacks Creek.
Boat launches
- Robie Creek Road Boise County
- South Swan Falls Road Ada County
- Celebration Park
- Upper Embankment Road Canyon County
- Marsing Murphy Road 12985, Owyhee County
Campgrounds
- Indian Creek Reservoir
- Gowen Field Military
- Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
- Macks Creek
- Swan Falls Campground
- Swan Falls - Idaho Power
Paddle runs
- Trail Creek To Confluence With Crank Creek
- Boise Nf Boundary To Confluence With Willow Creek
- Mennecke Creek To Confluence With Trail Creek
- Anderson Ranch Dam To Confluence With Mennecke Creek
- Confluence With Granite Creek To Confluence With Pine Creek
- Confluence With Rabbit Creek To Confluence With Middle Fork Boise River
Track Blacks 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 Blacks Creek
Where does the data for Blacks 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 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 Blacks Creek.