Crane Gulch Main Fork dam
Crane Gulch Main Fork
Crane Gulch Main Fork is a significant water resource infrastructure located in Boise, Idaho, designed by Morrison Knudsen Corp and regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources. Completed in 1998, this earth dam stands at a height of 46 feet and has a hydraulic height of 44 feet, serving primarily for flood risk reduction along Crane Creek and the Boise River. With a storage capacity of 19 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 1550 cubic feet per second, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and protecting the surrounding areas from potential flooding.
The dam's spillway, which is uncontrolled and 150 feet wide, ensures the safe release of excess water during peak flow periods. Despite its satisfactory condition assessment in November 2018, Crane Gulch Main Fork is classified as having a significant hazard potential with a moderate risk assessment rating of 3. Regular inspections are conducted every four years to ensure the dam's structural integrity and functionality are maintained. With its location in Ada County, Idaho, this dam stands as a vital component of water resource management in the region, highlighting the importance of sustainable infrastructure for climate resilience.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the engineering and regulatory intricacies involved in the operation of Crane Gulch Main Fork. As a locally owned dam managed for flood risk reduction, this structure showcases the collaboration between the Natural Resources Conservation Service and state agencies in ensuring effective water management and safety. The presence of this earth dam underscores the continuous efforts to mitigate water-related hazards and protect communities in the face of changing climate patterns. Its utilization of rock and soil foundations further emphasizes the importance of sustainable infrastructure development in safeguarding water resources for future generations.
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 Crane Gulch Main Fork -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Creek Bel Fivemile Cr Nr Boise Id | 1 cfs | → |
| Boise River At Glenwood Bridge Nr Boise Id | 1,760 cfs | → |
| Dry Creek Nr Eagle Id | 0 cfs | → |
| Spring Valley Creek Nr Eagle Id | 0 cfs | → |
| Mores Creek Ab Robie Creek Nr Arrowrock Dam Id | 227 cfs | → |
| Boise River South Channel At Eagle Id | 1,120 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Crane Gulch Main Fork.
Boat launches
- Robie Creek Road Boise County
- Parnell Recreation Site
- Beehive Bend
- Upper Embankment Road Canyon County
- Look Lane 21723, Canyon County
Campgrounds
- Shafer Butte Cg And Group Sites - Reserve - Tent
- Shafer Butte
- Gowen Field Military
- Macks Creek
- Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
- Grayback Gulch
Paddle runs
- Confluence With Granite Creek To Confluence With Pine Creek
- Boise Nf Boundary To Confluence With Willow Creek
- Trail Creek To Confluence With Crank Creek
- Confluence With Rabbit Creek To Confluence With Middle Fork Boise River
- Boise Nf Boundary (1 Mile East Of Banks) To Boise Nf Boundary (1 Mile South Of Banks)
- Boise Nf Boundary To Confluence With Payette River
Track Crane Gulch Main Fork 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 Crane Gulch Main Fork
Where does the data for Crane Gulch Main Fork 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 Crane Gulch Main Fork.