Little Payette Lake Dike dam
Little Payette Lake Dike
Little Payette Lake Dike, located in McCall, Idaho, is a privately owned structure regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources. This earth dam, constructed in 1926 for irrigation purposes, stands at a height of 11.3 feet with a hydraulic height of 2.7 feet. The dam's reservoir has a storage capacity of 3,550 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 1,450 acres, serving as a vital source of water for the surrounding area.
Despite its historical significance, the Little Payette Lake Dike is currently assessed as being in poor condition, with a significant hazard potential. The last inspection in September 2020 highlighted the need for improvements and raised concerns about the dam's safety. With a high risk assessment rating of 2, there is a pressing need for proactive risk management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of this crucial water resource infrastructure in the face of potential climate challenges.
Given its importance for irrigation and water supply in the region, stakeholders must prioritize the maintenance and rehabilitation of the Little Payette Lake Dike to mitigate risks and safeguard the surrounding community and environment. As climate change continues to impact water resources, it is imperative to address the dam's structural deficiencies and enhance its resilience to future challenges. Collaborative efforts between private owners, state regulators, and local authorities are essential to ensure the sustainable management of this key water infrastructure for the benefit of all.
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 Little Payette Lake Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Fork Payette River Ab Jumbo Cr Nr Mccall Id | 529 cfs | → |
| Nf Payette River At Mccall Id | 825 cfs | → |
| Sf Salmon River Nr Krassel Ranger Station Id | 1,330 cfs | → |
| Johnson Creek At Yellow Pine Id | 1,380 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek Nr Stibnite | 45 cfs | → |
| Efsf Salmon R Abv Sugar Crk Nr Stibnite | 132 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Payette Lake Dike.
Boat launches
- Warren Wagon Road Mccall
- Fisher Creek Road Adams County
- Valley County
- Grouse Creek Campground Road Adams County
- Granite Lake Dam Road Valley County
- National Forest Development Road 422 Valley County
Campgrounds
- Lake Fork Campground
- Ponderosa State Park
- Mccall Campground & Rv Park
- Black Lee Dispersed Camp Site
- Rapid Creek Dispersed Camping Area
- 33 Mile Dispersed Camping Area
Paddle runs
- Ponderosa Campground To Confluence With South Fork Salmon River
- Chinook Campground To Ponderosa Campground
- Secesh To Main (The Canyon)
- Headwaters At Hard Creek Lake To Payette Nf Boundary
- Hard Creek
- Payette Nf Boundary On Lake Creek (Just West Marshall Lake) To To And Including Chinook Campground
Track Little Payette Lake Dike 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 Little Payette Lake Dike
Where does the data for Little Payette Lake Dike 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 Little Payette Lake Dike.