Soulen Family Dam dam
Soulen Family Dam
The Soulen Family Dam, located in Valley County, Idaho, is a private earth dam constructed in 2009 on the North Fork of the Payette River. With a height of 22 feet and a length of 633 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 66 acre-feet and serves multiple purposes including flood control and irrigation. The dam is regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
Despite being classified as low hazard potential, the Soulen Family Dam is considered to be in fair condition as of the last assessment in 2017. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 20 feet and an outlet gate consisting of a slide (sluice gate). In the event of an emergency, the dam does not currently have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared, raising some concerns about its ability to respond effectively to unforeseen events. Overall, the risk associated with the dam is rated as moderate, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Soulen Family Dam represents a vital piece of infrastructure in the region's water management system. Its presence on the Mill Creek tributary of the Payette River helps to regulate water flow, protect against flooding, and support agricultural activities in the surrounding area. As discussions around the impacts of climate change continue to evolve, understanding the role of dams like Soulen Family Dam in maintaining water security and resilience will be crucial for sustainable water resource management 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 Soulen Family Dam -- 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 | → |
| Weiser River Nr Cambridge Id | 420 cfs | → |
| Johnson Creek At Yellow Pine Id | 1,380 cfs | → |
| Snake River At Hells Canyon Dam Id-Or State Line | 19,200 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Soulen Family Dam.
Boat launches
- Valley County
- Warren Wagon Road Mccall
- Fisher Creek Road Adams County
- Grouse Creek Campground Road Adams County
- Granite Lake Dam Road Valley County
- National Forest Development Road 422 Valley County
Campgrounds
- Mccall Campground & Rv Park
- Donnelly Lakeside City Park
- Rainbow Point Campground - Reserve
- Amanita Campground - Reserve
- Amanita
- Willow Creek - Siscra
Track Soulen Family Dam 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 Soulen Family Dam
Where does the data for Soulen Family Dam 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 Soulen Family Dam.