Soulen Main Dam dam
Soulen Main Dam
The Soulen Main Dam, located in remote Idaho, was completed in 1935 for the primary purpose of irrigation. This earth dam, with a height of 18.4 meters and a length of 680 meters, holds back the waters of South Crane Creek and Crane Creek to provide water for agriculture in the region. The dam has a storage capacity of 630 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 113 acres.
Despite being regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, the dam has a significant hazard potential and is classified as being in fair condition as of the last inspection in 2017. With a high risk assessment level, it is essential for the dam's operators to closely monitor its safety and maintenance to prevent any potential failures. The dam does not have a spillway, making proper management and regular inspections even more crucial for the safety of downstream communities and ecosystems.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Soulen Main Dam serves as a critical infrastructure for supporting agricultural activities in the region. Its history, design, and current condition highlight the importance of sustainable water management practices and the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and resilience of dams in the face of changing environmental conditions and potential hazards.
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 Soulen Main Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Weiser River Nr Weiser Id | 734 cfs | → |
| Crane Creek At Mouth Nr Weiser Id | 4 cfs | → |
| Snake River At Weiser Id | 13,800 cfs | → |
| Payette River Nr Payette Id | 5,000 cfs | → |
| Payette River Nr Emmett Id | 5,080 cfs | → |
| Weiser River Nr Cambridge Id | 441 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Soulen Main Dam.
Boat launches
- Antelope Boat Ramp
- Sage Hen Creek Boat Ramp
- Ontario State Park
- Banks River Access
- Beehive Bend
- Oasis Rv Park
Campgrounds
- Paddock Reservoir
- Crane Creek Reservoir
- Third Fork Guard Station - Rental Cabin
- Cartwright Ridge
- Cartwright Ridge Campground
- Antelope Campground & Annex Group Sites - Reserve
Paddle runs
- Boise Nf Boundary To Confluence With Payette River
- Boise Nf Boundary (1 Mile East Of Banks) To Boise Nf Boundary (1 Mile South Of Banks)
- Cabarton
- South Fork Payette
- Kelly's Whitewater Park
- Confluence With Bell Creek To Boiling Springs Cabin
More reservoirs
Track Soulen Main 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 Soulen Main Dam
Where does the data for Soulen Main 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 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 Soulen Main Dam.