Upper Salmon Falls Dam dam
Upper Salmon Falls Dam
Upper Salmon Falls Dam, also known as Snake River Diversion/B-Plant (Upper) Diversion, is a private-owned concrete gravity dam located in Gooding, Idaho. Completed in 1937 by EBASCO, this dam serves primarily for hydroelectric purposes, with a normal storage capacity of 600 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 48,000 cubic feet per second. The dam stands at a height of 23 feet with a hydraulic height of 32.3 feet and a length of 1620 feet, controlling the flow of the Snake River.
Managed and regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Upper Salmon Falls Dam has a controlled spillway with a width of 730 feet and is equipped with six Tainter (radial) outlet gates. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam poses a very high risk due to its age and lack of updated condition assessment information. With a drainage area of 32,200 square miles and a surface area of 50 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and hydroelectric power generation in the region.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Upper Salmon Falls Dam to be a significant structure in the Snake River basin, providing both recreational opportunities and essential energy production. Its historical significance, coupled with its current risk management challenges, highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and sustainability of this vital infrastructure in Idaho.
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 Upper Salmon Falls Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N Channel Snake R @ Upper Salmon Falls Nr Hagerman | 79 cfs | → |
| Salmon Falls Creek Nr Hagerman Id | 51 cfs | → |
| Malad River Nr Gooding Id | 109 cfs | → |
| Snake River Nr Buhl Id | 1,580 cfs | → |
| Snake River At King Hill Id | 5,980 cfs | → |
| Snake River Nr Twin Falls Id | 398 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Salmon Falls Dam.
Track Upper Salmon Falls Dam 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 Upper Salmon Falls Dam
Where does the data for Upper Salmon Falls Dam 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 Upper Salmon Falls Dam.