Palisades dam
Palisades
Palisades Dam, located in Idaho along the South Fork Snake River, is a Federal-owned structure primarily designed for flood risk reduction. Completed in 1957, this earth dam stands at a height of 270 feet and has a storage capacity of over 1.4 million acre-feet. Its purpose also extends to hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and recreation, making it a versatile water resource management tool in the region.
Managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, Palisades Dam boasts a controlled spillway with a width of 40 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 48,500 cubic feet per second. Its hazard potential is classified as high, with a very high risk assessment rating. Despite its age, the dam's condition assessment is currently unavailable, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and safety for the surrounding communities.
As a key component of water resource management in Idaho, Palisades Dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks, providing water for irrigation, generating hydroelectric power, and supporting recreational activities. Its strategic location and design make it a vital infrastructure for the region, highlighting the importance of ongoing regulatory oversight and maintenance to safeguard its functionality and safety in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Palisades -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Snake River Nr Irwin Id | 13,000 cfs | → |
| Greys River Ab Reservoir Nr Alpine Wy | 1,530 cfs | → |
| Snake River Ab Reservoir Nr Alpine Wy | 9,160 cfs | → |
| Salt River Ab Reservoir Nr Etna Wy | 545 cfs | → |
| Grays Lake Outlet Nr Herman Id | 0 cfs | → |
| Fish Creek At Wilson | 323 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Palisades.
⚓ Boat launches
- Big Elk Creek Road 100, Bonneville County
- Spring Creek Boat Ramp Swan Valley
- Conant Valley Boat Ramp
- Alpine
- Sheep Gulch Boating Site
- Taco Hole Kayak Access
⛺ Campgrounds
More campgrounds →🎣 Fishing spots
- Palisades Reservoir
- Pritchard Boating Site
- Astoria Boating Site
- Elbow Boating Site
- Jenny Lake
- Ashton Reservoir
Track Palisades 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 Palisades
Where does the data for Palisades 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 Palisades.