Nelson dam
Nelson
Nelson, a private water resource in Latah, Idaho, serves as a vital irrigation source with a dam height of 16.5 feet and a storage capacity of 65 acre-feet. Built in 1907 on an unnamed stream known as Big Bear Creek, Nelson's primary purpose is to support agricultural activities in the area. The dam, made of earth and stone, has a controlled spillway and a low hazard potential, with a satisfactory condition assessment as of 2008.
Located in the Seattle District of Idaho, Nelson is regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement measures in place. Despite its age, the dam continues to provide reliable water storage for the surrounding area, with a drainage area of 0.1 square miles and a maximum discharge of 3 cubic feet per second. While the risk assessment indicates a very high risk level, the dam's risk management measures and emergency action plan status remain undisclosed, warranting further evaluation to ensure the safety and sustainability of this essential water resource.
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 Nelson -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Potlatch River Bel Little Potlatch Cr Nr Spalding | 109 cfs | → |
| Paradise Cr At University Of Idaho At Moscow Id | 3 cfs | → |
| Palouse River Nr Potlatch Id | 79 cfs | → |
| Clearwater River At Spalding Id | 33,300 cfs | → |
| Clearwater River Nr Peck Id | 32,900 cfs | → |
| Lapwai Creek Nr Lapwai Id | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nelson.
Boat launches
- Spring Valley Road Latah County
- Harpers Bend Recreation Site
- Us 12 Clearwater County
- Big Eddy Trail Clearwater County
- Viewpoint Poad Clearwater County
- Northfork Drive Clearwater County
Campgrounds
- Little Boulder Campground
- Camp Grizzly Boy Scout Camp
- Laird Park Campground
- Damascus Group Camp
- Giant White Pine Campground And Trailhead
- Pink House Recreation Site
Paddle runs
- Dworshak Reservoir, Sec. 19, T41n, R5e To Forest Boundary, Sec. 33, T42n, R6e
- Little Lost Lake Creek
- Lost Lake Creek
- Little North Fork Clearwater River
- Cedar Creek, Sec. 6, T41n, R6e To Adair Creek
More reservoirs
Track Nelson 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 Nelson
Where does the data for Nelson 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 Nelson.