Gorley Creek Dike dam
Gorley Creek Dike
Gorley Creek Dike, located in Lemhi, Idaho, was completed in 1913 for the primary purpose of irrigation. This earth dam, constructed with stone cores and supported by rock and soil foundations, has a height of 15.7 feet and a hydraulic height of 12.8 feet. With a storage capacity of 92 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.6 square miles, the dam serves as a vital water resource for the area, specifically for irrigation needs.
Despite its important role in water management, Gorley Creek Dike has been assessed to be in poor condition, with a low hazard potential according to the data updated in 2016. The dam does not have a spillway and outlet gates, which raises concerns about its ability to handle maximum discharge. Additionally, the risk assessment indicates a high risk level (2) associated with the structure, highlighting the need for improved maintenance and potential risk management measures to ensure the safety and reliability of the dam for the surrounding community.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to monitor and address the condition of infrastructure like Gorley Creek Dike to safeguard against potential hazards and ensure the sustainable use of water resources. With ongoing inspections and maintenance, coupled with risk management strategies, this historical dam can continue to fulfill its essential role in supporting irrigation and water management in the region while mitigating any associated risks.
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 Gorley Creek Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon River At Salmon Id | 5,380 cfs | → |
| Lemhi River Below L5 Diversion Near Salmon | 172 cfs | → |
| Napias Creek Below Arnett Creek Near Leesburg | 95 cfs | → |
| Blackbird Creek Near Cobalt | 12 cfs | → |
| Lemhi River Nr Lemhi Id | 219 cfs | → |
| Big Hole River Near Jackson Mt | 25 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gorley Creek Dike.
Boat launches
- Us 93 East Salmon
- Us 93 West Salmon
- Elevenmile Day Use Area
- Us 93 Lemhi County
- National Forest Development Road 028 Lemhi County
Campgrounds
- Shoup Bridge
- Shoup Bridge Campground
- Cougar Point
- Cougar Point Campground
- Morgan Bar
- Williams Lake Campground
Fishing spots
Track Gorley Creek 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 Gorley Creek Dike
Where does the data for Gorley Creek 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 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 Gorley Creek Dike.