Hornet Creek Lower dam
Hornet Creek Lower
Hornet Creek Lower is a privately-owned irrigation structure situated in the remote areas of Washington County, Idaho. Built in 1913, this earth dam stands at a height of 26.3 feet and has a hydraulic height of 23 feet, serving the primary purpose of irrigation for the surrounding agricultural lands. The dam boasts a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 16 acres, drawing water from Hornet Creek and Weiser River.
Maintained and regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, Hornet Creek Lower has a low hazard potential and is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in August 2017. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 9 feet and outlet gates that consist of slide (sluice gate) mechanisms. With a moderate risk rating of 3, the structure is inspected every 4 years to ensure its continued safe operation. Despite its age, Hornet Creek Lower plays a crucial role in the local irrigation system, contributing to the agricultural productivity of the region while complying with state regulations and enforcement measures.
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 Hornet Creek Lower -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Weiser River Nr Cambridge Id | 420 cfs | → |
| Nf Payette River At Mccall Id | 825 cfs | → |
| Snake River At Hells Canyon Dam Id-Or State Line | 19,200 cfs | → |
| Crane Creek At Mouth Nr Weiser Id | 2 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork Payette River Ab Jumbo Cr Nr Mccall Id | 529 cfs | → |
| Weiser River Nr Weiser Id | 743 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hornet Creek Lower.
Boat launches
- Carters Old Boat Launch
- Oxbow Boat Launch
- Copperfield Boat Launch
- Bob Creek
- Baker County
- Hells Canyon Road Adams County
Campgrounds
- Brownlee Campground
- Mccormick Park - Hells Canyon National Rec Area
- Mccormick Campgrounds
- Mccormick Park
- Lafferty Campground
- Lafferty
Track Hornet Creek Lower 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 Hornet Creek Lower
Where does the data for Hornet Creek Lower 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 Hornet Creek Lower.