South Fork Detention Dam dam
South Fork Detention Dam
South Fork Detention Dam, located in Custer, Idaho, is a gravity dam primarily owned and managed by the Bureau of Land Management for flood risk reduction in the Bradshaw Basin area. The dam stands at a structural height of 31 feet, with a hydraulic height of 26 feet, and a length of 340 feet. It has a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet, with a normal storage of 24 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 24 acres and draining a 3.9 square mile watershed.
Although the dam has a low hazard potential and is considered to be in moderate risk condition, it has not been rated for its condition assessment. The last inspection was conducted in July 2012, with an inspection frequency of 5 years. The spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 2 feet, and the maximum discharge capacity is 220 cubic feet per second. Despite its relatively small size and limited functionality, South Fork Detention Dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks in the region and protecting the surrounding rural ranch community.
Overall, South Fork Detention Dam serves as a vital infrastructure for flood control in the Bradshaw Basin, with the Bureau of Land Management overseeing its operation, maintenance, and regulatory compliance. While its risk assessment indicates moderate concerns, the dam's low hazard potential suggests that it poses minimal threat to downstream areas. With its strategic location and purposeful design, South Fork Detention Dam stands as a testament to efficient water resource management and climate adaptation efforts 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 South Fork Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Squaw Creek Bl Bruno Creek Nr Clayton Id | 84 cfs | → |
| Thompson Creek Nr Clayton Id | 42 cfs | → |
| Pahsimeroi River At Ellis Id | 235 cfs | → |
| Big Lost River At Howell Ranch Nr Chilly Id | 682 cfs | → |
| Yankee Fork Salmon River Nr Clayton Id | 685 cfs | → |
| Salmon River Bl Yankee Fork Nr Clayton Id | 2,420 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Fork Detention Dam.
Boat launches
- Id 75 Custer County
- Old Road Custer County
- Dugway Dispersed Site
- Challis Bridge Recreation Site
- Corrigan Ln Custer County
Campgrounds
- Deadman Hole Campground
- Deadman Hole Dispersed
- Bayhorse
- Little Bayhorse Camping Area
- Big Bayhorse Campground
- Big Bayhorse
Fishing spots
- Sunbeam Dam
- Redfish Lake
- Yellowbelly Lake
- Perkins Lake
- Alturas Lake And Pettit Lake Areas
- Marinac Fishing Access
Track South Fork Detention 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 South Fork Detention Dam
Where does the data for South Fork Detention 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 South Fork Detention Dam.