Elk River dam
Elk River
Elk River, located in Idaho, is a state-owned dam on the North Fork Clearwater River. Built in 1951, this earth dam stands at a height of 21.7 feet and has a normal storage capacity of 463 acre-feet. With a controlled spillway and a maximum discharge of 2917 cubic feet per second, Elk River serves multiple purposes beyond flood control, making it a critical water resource in the region. Despite its poor condition assessment, the dam has a low hazard potential and is under state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement by the Idaho Department of Water Resources.
The dam's location in Clearwater County, Idaho, makes it a vital infrastructure for water management in the area. The dam's foundation is made of rock and soil, with a spillway width of 68 feet. With a drainage area of 42 square miles and a surface area of 61 acres, Elk River plays a significant role in water storage and management for local communities. Although it has not been significantly modified over the years, the dam continues to be monitored for its structural integrity and risk assessment, which is currently rated as very high.
Even with its aging infrastructure and poor condition assessment, Elk River remains a crucial water resource for the region, providing essential water management services and flood control measures. As a state-regulated dam, it undergoes regular inspections and enforcement to ensure public safety and water security. With its historical significance dating back to the early 1950s, Elk River continues to be a key player in the sustainable management of water resources in Idaho.
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 Elk River -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clearwater River At Orofino Id | 29,100 cfs | → |
| Clearwater River Nr Peck Id | 32,900 cfs | → |
| Big Canyon Creek Nr Peck Id | 24 cfs | → |
| Nf Clearwater River Nr Canyon Ranger Station Id | 12,300 cfs | → |
| Lolo Creek Nr Greer Id | 771 cfs | → |
| St Maries River Nr Santa Id | 370 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Elk River.
Boat launches
- Dent Bridge Road Clearwater County
- Dent Trail Clearwater County
- Grandad Road Clearwater County
- Big Eddy Trail Clearwater County
- Canyon Creek Road Clearwater County
- Viewpoint Poad Clearwater County
Campgrounds
- Partridge Creek Campground
- Little Meadow Creek Atv Camp
- Cold Springs Group Camp
- Damascus Group Camp
- Grandad Caampground
- Grandad Creek - Dworshak Reservoir
Track Elk River 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 Elk River
Where does the data for Elk River 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 Elk River.