Spencer dam
Spencer
Spencer Dam, located in Grangeville, Idaho, is a privately owned structure regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources for irrigation purposes. The dam is situated on an unnamed stream and Threemile Creek and was completed in 1954. With a height of 15.4 feet and a storage capacity of 25 acre-feet, the dam serves as a significant asset for water resource management in the area.
Despite its age, Spencer Dam is rated in fair condition with a significant hazard potential, prompting regular inspections every four years to ensure its structural integrity. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and no outlet gates, making it crucial for proper maintenance and risk management measures. The risk assessment for Spencer Dam is moderate, highlighting the importance of proactive strategies to address any potential issues and ensure the safety of the surrounding community.
Managed by a private entity, Spencer Dam plays a vital role in supporting irrigation activities in the region. With its stone core and earth dam type, the structure represents a blend of traditional engineering practices and modern regulatory standards enforced by the state. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, monitoring and maintaining Spencer Dam is essential to safeguarding its operational efficiency and minimizing the risk of any potential hazards in the future.
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 Spencer -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sf Clearwater River At Stites Id | 1,660 cfs | → |
| Salmon River At White Bird Id | 45,400 cfs | → |
| Clear Ck At Kooskia National Fish Hatchery | 18 cfs | → |
| Sf Clearwater River Nr Elk City Id | 42 cfs | → |
| Lochsa River Nr Lowell Id | 11,800 cfs | → |
| Selway River Nr Lowell Id | 17,800 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spencer.
Boat launches
- Center Creek Road Idaho County
- Us 95 Idaho County
- Pittsburg Landing Road Idaho County
- Lucile Recreation Site
Campgrounds
- Fish Creek Group Use Campground
- Castle Creek
- Accross From Schwartz Campsite
- Schwartz Eddy Campsite
- Upper Schwartz Campsite
- Schwartz Bar Campsite
Paddle runs
- South Fork Clearwater River, Sec. 30, T29n, R5e To Headwaters
- Hammer Creek To Heller Bar (Lower Salmon)
- Salmon River
- Salmon River, Sec. 22, T28n, R1e To North And South Forks Of White Bird Creek
- Clearwater River To Red And American Rivers Near Elk City
- Clearwater River
Track Spencer 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 Spencer
Where does the data for Spencer 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.