Twin Falls Intake Dam dam
Twin Falls Intake Dam
Located on the Snake River in Twin Falls, Idaho, the Twin Falls Intake Dam is a concrete gravity dam with a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation. Built in 1935 by designer EBASCO, this privately-owned structure stands at a height of 34 feet and has a length of 203 feet. With a storage capacity of 955 acre-feet and a surface area of 85 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and recreation in the area.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Twin Falls Intake Dam is subject to state regulation and inspection to ensure its safe operation and maintenance. While the dam has a low hazard potential, a high risk assessment indicates the need for robust risk management measures. Despite its age, the dam continues to provide valuable hydroelectric power to the region and remains a key component of the local water infrastructure.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find the Twin Falls Intake Dam a fascinating example of early 20th-century engineering and its ongoing contribution to sustainable energy production. With its strategic location on the Snake River and state-of-the-art design for the time, this dam exemplifies the intersection of technology, infrastructure, and environmental stewardship in the management of water resources.
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 Twin Falls Intake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Devils Washbowl Spring Nr Kimberly 10s 18e 04aad1s | 9 cfs | → |
| Blue Lakes Spring Bl Pump Plant Nr Twin Falls Id | 149 cfs | → |
| Snake River Nr Twin Falls Id | 398 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Ab Hwy 30/93 Xing At Twin Falls Id | 59 cfs | → |
| Snake River Gaging Station At Milner Id | · | → |
| Snake River Nr Buhl Id | 1,580 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Twin Falls Intake Dam.
Boat launches
- Twin Falls Grade 3670, Twin Falls County
- Twin Falls
- Murtaugh Boat Launch
- Trout Point Boat Launch
- Willow Point Boat Launch
- Little Drops Recreation Site
Campgrounds
- Rock Creek Co Park
- Murtaugh Lake Rv Park
- Schipper Campground
- Schipper
- Milner Historic Recreation Area
- Bass Point Dispersed Area
Paddle runs
Track Twin Falls Intake 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 Twin Falls Intake Dam
Where does the data for Twin Falls Intake 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 Twin Falls Intake Dam.