Herrick dam
Herrick
Herrick is a privately owned dam located in Cascade, Idaho, with a significant hazard potential and fair condition assessment. Built in 1953, this earthen dam stands at a height of 37.7 feet and has a hydraulic height of 32.1 feet. It has a storage capacity of 562 acre-feet, serving as a water resource for the surrounding area. The dam spans 660 feet in length and is situated on Skunk Creek and Clear Creek, with a drainage area of 4.6 square miles.
Despite being privately owned, Herrick is regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 10 feet, and its maximum discharge capacity is 190 cubic feet per second. The dam is monitored regularly, with inspections conducted every four years to assess its condition and ensure the safety of downstream communities. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, risk management measures are in place to mitigate potential hazards associated with the dam.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Herrick serves as a crucial piece of infrastructure in the management of water resources in Valley County, Idaho. Its presence on Skunk Creek and Clear Creek provides essential flood control and irrigation benefits to the local community. With its fair condition and significant hazard potential, ongoing monitoring and maintenance are necessary to ensure the safety and reliability of this important water storage structure. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the resilience of dams like Herrick will be vital in adapting to changing hydrological conditions and ensuring the sustainable management of water in 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 Herrick -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deadwood River Bl Deadwood Res Nr Lowman Id | 85 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Payette River Nr Crouch Id | 695 cfs | → |
| Nf Payette River Nr Banks Id | 2,610 cfs | → |
| Sf Payette River At Lowman Id | 1,900 cfs | → |
| Payette River Nr Horseshoe Bend Id | 6,170 cfs | → |
| Weiser River Nr Cambridge Id | 441 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Herrick.
Boat launches
- Cabarton Road Valley County
- Main Street Valley County
- Valley County
- Sage Hen Creek Boat Ramp
- Lakeshore Drive 117, Cascade
- Antelope Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Boiling Springs
- Boiling Springs Campground
- Boiling Springs Rental Cabin
- Rattlesnake Campground
- Rattlesnake
- Rattlesnake Campground And Group Sites - Reserve
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Cabarton
- Boiling Springs Cabin To Confluence With Fool Creek
- Kelly's Whitewater Park
- Confluence With Bell Creek To Boiling Springs Cabin
- Headwaters To Deadwood Reservoir
- Deadwood Reservoir To Confluence With Warm Springs Creek
More reservoirs
Track Herrick 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 Herrick
Where does the data for Herrick 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 Significant 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 Herrick.