Mcarthur dam
Mcarthur
Mcarthur is a state-regulated dam located in Boundary County, Idaho, near the city of Naples. Built in 1967, this earth dam stands at a height of 14.7 feet and has a hydraulic height of 10.2 feet. With a storage capacity of 1,085 acre-feet and a surface area of 266 acres, Mcarthur serves various purposes, including flood control and water supply management for the Deep Creek and Kootenai River.
This dam poses a high hazard potential and has been assessed to be in fair condition as of August 2020. The spillway is controlled with a width of 44 feet, and the outlet gates consist of slide (sluice gate) mechanisms. Mcarthur's risk assessment is classified as very high (1), highlighting the importance of proper maintenance and emergency preparedness measures. Despite its age, Mcarthur continues to play a crucial role in water resource management within the region.
Overall, Mcarthur is an essential infrastructure in Idaho, providing vital water resource management functions for the surrounding area. With its fair condition and high hazard potential, ongoing inspections and risk management measures are crucial to ensure the safety and stability of this dam in the face of changing climate conditions. Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the strategic importance of Mcarthur in maintaining the ecological balance and water security of the region.
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 Mcarthur -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pack River Nr Colburn Id | 610 cfs | → |
| Kootenai River @ Tribal Hatchery Nr Bonners Ferry | 15,700 cfs | → |
| Kootenai River Bel Moyie River Nr Bonners Ferry Id | 15,600 cfs | → |
| Kootenai River At Leonia Id | 13,900 cfs | → |
| Priest R Outflow Nr Coolin | 605 cfs | → |
| Yaak River Near Troy Mt | 1,380 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mcarthur.
Boat launches
- Lavinia Avenue Sandpoint
- State Highway 200 Hope
- Us 2 Lincoln County
- National Forest Development Road 2394 Lincoln County
- Derr Island Road 311, Bonner County
- National Forest Development Road 278 Bonner County
Campgrounds
- Roman Nose
- Lunch Peak Lookout
- Bonner County Fairgrounds
- Smith Lake
- Smith Lake Campground
- Bartoo Island Group Site/Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- Forest Boundary, Sec. 34, T59n, R2w To Harrison Lake, Sec. 31, T62n, R2w
- Kootenai River
- Yaak Falls, Sec. 4, T33n, R33w To Downstream To Bpa Powerline, 6 Miles West Of Troy
- 10 Miles From Surprise Gulch To A Mile Below Kootenai Vista Estates To 10 Miles From Surprise Gulch To A Mile Below Kootenai Vista Estates
- Headwaters, East And North Fork Of The Yaak River To Yaak Falls, Sec. 4, T33n, R33w
More reservoirs
Track Mcarthur 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 Mcarthur
Where does the data for Mcarthur 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 High 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 Mcarthur.