Ashton dam
Ashton
Ashton, a privately owned dam located in Idaho along the Henrys Fork of the Snake River, serves multiple purposes including irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, recreation, and water supply. Built in 1917, the earth dam stands at 65 feet high and has a normal storage capacity of 9800 acre-feet. With a drainage area of 1040 square miles, the dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 46100 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Ashton's spillway type is controlled with a width of 72 feet. The dam's hazard potential is rated as high, and its risk assessment is classified as very high. Despite its age, the condition assessment of Ashton is not available, and the last inspection was conducted in September 2020. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in December 2020, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and risk management measures.
Overall, Ashton plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area, providing essential services to the community while also posing potential risks that require ongoing monitoring and maintenance. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Ashton represents a significant infrastructure that highlights the delicate balance between harnessing natural resources for human needs and ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water systems in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Ashton -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Henrys Fork Nr Ashton Id | 959 cfs | → |
| Falls River Nr Chester Id | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Falls River Nr Ashton Id | 1,420 cfs | → |
| Henrys Fork At St Anthony Id | 1,070 cfs | → |
| Teton River Nr St Anthony Id | 1,630 cfs | → |
| Falls River Nr Squirrel Id | 1,310 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ashton.
Boat launches
- East Hatchery Ford Boating Site
- Riverside Campground Road Fremont County
- Trestle Bridge
- Red Road Bridge Boat Access
- Old Highway Island Park
- Island Park Boating Site
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Ashton 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 Ashton
Where does the data for Ashton 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 Ashton.