Elkington dam
Elkington
Elkington is a private irrigation dam located in Shelley, Idaho, within Bonneville County. The dam, completed in 1994, stands at a height of 35.3 feet and has a normal storage capacity of 90 acre-feet. It serves the primary purpose of irrigation and is regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place.
The dam is constructed primarily of earth and stone materials, with a spillway width of 10 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 196 cubic feet per second. Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Elkington is subject to moderate risk, with a risk assessment rating of 3. The dam is situated along Squaw Creek and Willow Creek, and its drainage area covers 5.3 square miles.
Elkington's location in the Walla Walla District and its association with federal agencies like the US Army Corps of Engineers contribute to its operational oversight. With a history of regular inspections and a five-year inspection frequency, the dam remains a vital resource for irrigation in the region, highlighting the importance of maintaining and managing water resources 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 Elkington -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Willow Creek Bl Tex Creek Nr Ririe Id | 45 cfs | → |
| Blackfoot River Nr Shelley Id | 478 cfs | → |
| Sand Creek Ab Willow Creek Div Nr Ucon Id | 384 cfs | → |
| Willow Creek Bl Floodway Channel Nr Ucon Id | 100 cfs | → |
| Willow Creek Nr Ririe Id | 63 cfs | → |
| Willow Creek Floodway Channel Nr Ucon Id | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Elkington.
Boat launches
- Bonneville County
- East Lincoln Road Bonneville County
- River Parkway Downtown
- East 1250 North Bingham County
- Wolf Flats Recreation Area
Campgrounds
- Kepp's Crossing Dispersed Camping Area
- Idaho Falls North Tourist Park
- Trail Creek Bridge Campground
- Juniper Co Park
- Juniper Park - Ririe Reservoir
- Clark Hill B
Fishing spots
Track Elkington 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 Elkington
Where does the data for Elkington 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 Elkington.