Rio Vista dam
Rio Vista
Rio Vista, a private water resource located in Payette River, Idaho, is a significant recreational site built in 1971 with a dam height of 20.3 meters and a storage capacity of 41 million cubic meters. Managed by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, this earth dam serves as a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts seeking activities like fishing and boating on the Hyde Creek and Salmon River. Despite being labeled as having a "significant" hazard potential, the dam's fair condition assessment and controlled spillway with a width of 8 meters ensure safety measures are in place.
With a drainage area of 0.3 square kilometers and a maximum discharge capacity of 118 cubic meters per second, Rio Vista offers an expansive surface area of 11 hectares for recreational use. The dam's structural integrity is regularly inspected, with the last assessment conducted in September 2020. Managed for recreation purposes and with a very high risk assessment rating, Rio Vista remains a vital water resource in Valley County, providing both enjoyment and essential water management functions for the region. As the climate changes and water resources become increasingly important, the sustainable management of sites like Rio Vista will be crucial for ensuring continued access to clean water and recreational opportunities.
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 Rio Vista -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nf Payette River At Mccall Id | 825 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork Payette River Ab Jumbo Cr Nr Mccall Id | 529 cfs | → |
| Sf Salmon River Nr Krassel Ranger Station Id | 1,330 cfs | → |
| Johnson Creek At Yellow Pine Id | 1,380 cfs | → |
| Weiser River Nr Cambridge Id | 420 cfs | → |
| Little Salmon River At Riggins Id | 1,780 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rio Vista.
Boat launches
- Warren Wagon Road Mccall
- Fisher Creek Road Adams County
- Grouse Creek Campground Road Adams County
- Valley County
- Granite Lake Dam Road Valley County
- National Forest Development Road 422 Valley County
Campgrounds
- Mccall Campground & Rv Park
- Ponderosa State Park
- Last Chance Campground
- Last Chance
- Lake Fork Campground
- Brundage Reservoir Camping Area
Track Rio Vista 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 Rio Vista
Where does the data for Rio Vista 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 Rio Vista.