Louie Lake dam
Louie Lake
Louie Lake, located in Valley County, Idaho, is a privately owned reservoir primarily used for irrigation purposes. Constructed in 1928, this earth dam structure stands at a height of 17.9 feet, with a hydraulic height of 15 feet and a storage capacity of 361 acre-feet. The dam is situated along Stella Creek and Wolf Lodge Creek and covers a surface area of 35 acres, serving a drainage area of 0.5 square miles.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Louie Lake is subject to state regulations and inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 6 feet and outlet gates equipped with slide (sluice gate) mechanisms. The last inspection in July 2016 reported the dam's condition as fair, with a moderate risk assessment rating of 3. While the reservoir has not undergone any modifications in recent years, regular inspections are conducted every 5 years to monitor its overall condition and address any potential risks.
Louie Lake remains an essential water resource within the region, providing irrigation water for agricultural purposes. With its historical significance dating back to the early 20th century, this privately owned reservoir continues to play a vital role in water management and conservation efforts in Valley County, Idaho. Climate and water resource enthusiasts are drawn to the unique features of Louie Lake, including its earth dam structure and the surrounding natural landscape that contributes to the overall ecological diversity of the area.
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 Louie Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Fork Payette River Ab Jumbo Cr Nr Mccall Id | 529 cfs | → |
| Nf Payette River At Mccall Id | 825 cfs | → |
| Sf Salmon River Nr Krassel Ranger Station Id | 1,330 cfs | → |
| Johnson Creek At Yellow Pine Id | 1,380 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek Nr Stibnite | 45 cfs | → |
| Efsf Salmon R Abv Sugar Crk Nr Stibnite | 132 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Louie Lake.
Boat launches
- Warren Wagon Road Mccall
- Valley County
- 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
- Rapid Creek Dispersed Camping Area
- Lake Fork Campground
- Paddy Flat Dispersed Camping Area
- Paddy Flat Guard Station Rental Cabin
- Mccall Campground & Rv Park
- Kennally Creek
Paddle runs
- Secesh To Main (The Canyon)
- Ponderosa Campground To Confluence With South Fork Salmon River
- Chinook Campground To Ponderosa Campground
- Junction Fr 447 To Confluence With Johnson Creek
- Confluence With Bear Creek To Confluence With Hanson Creek
- Kelly's Whitewater Park
More reservoirs
Track Louie Lake 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 Louie Lake
Where does the data for Louie Lake 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 Louie Lake.