Kimberly Lake dam
Kimberly Lake
Kimberly Lake, also known as French Dam, is a private dam located in Lemhi, Idaho. Built in 1970, this earth dam stands at a height of 26.7 feet and serves primarily for recreational purposes. With a storage capacity of 36 acre-feet and a surface area of 4 acres, Kimberly Lake is a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts looking to enjoy activities such as fishing and boating.
Despite its fair condition assessment in 2018, Kimberly Lake poses a significant hazard potential due to its location and design. The dam is state-regulated, with inspections, permitting, and enforcement conducted by the Idaho Department of Water Resources. The dam's spillway, with a controlled design, ensures proper discharge during peak flow events to mitigate flooding risks in the surrounding area.
With a very high risk assessment rating, Kimberly Lake demands careful monitoring and management measures to ensure the safety of nearby residents and visitors. The dam's proximity to Rams Creek and Silver Creek adds to its importance in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region. As a recreational attraction with inherent risks, Kimberly Lake serves as a reminder of the challenges and responsibilities associated with maintaining water infrastructure in a changing climate.
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 Kimberly Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackbird Creek Near Cobalt | 12 cfs | → |
| Napias Creek Below Arnett Creek Near Leesburg | 63 cfs | → |
| Mf Salmon River At Mf Lodge Nr Yellow Pine Id | 4,320 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Salmon River At Mouth Nr Shoup Id | 7,090 cfs | → |
| Pahsimeroi River At Ellis Id | 235 cfs | → |
| Salmon River Nr Shoup Id | 4,050 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kimberly Lake.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Lost Spring Campground
- Yellowjacket Guard Station Rental Cabin
- Beagle Creek Cua
- Morgan Summit Trailhead
- Iron Lake
- Iron Lake Campground
Fishing spots
Track Kimberly Lake 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 Kimberly Lake
Where does the data for Kimberly Lake 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 Kimberly Lake.