Blanchard Creek dam
Blanchard Creek
Blanchard Creek, located in Bonner County, Idaho, is a privately owned irrigation dam completed in 1910. The dam, made of concrete with a multi-arch core and supported by rock and soil foundations, stands at a height of 19 feet with a hydraulic height of 16 feet. The reservoir created by the dam has a storage capacity of 240 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 37.5 acres, serving the primary purpose of irrigation for the surrounding area.
With a drainage area of 34 square miles, Blanchard Creek has a maximum discharge of 108 cubic feet per second and features an uncontrolled spillway 7 feet wide. Despite its age, the dam is in poor condition and has a significant hazard potential, requiring inspections every 4 years. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, and while emergency action plans have not been updated recently, the dam is regulated and permitted by the Idaho Department of Water Resources.
Given its historical significance and importance for irrigation in the region, efforts to improve the structural integrity and safety of Blanchard Creek Dam are essential to ensure its continued function and minimize risks to downstream communities and the environment. Climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates may find opportunities to support restoration and maintenance initiatives for this vital water infrastructure in Bonner County, 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 Blanchard Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pend Oreille River At Newport Wa | 38,200 cfs | → |
| Little Spokane River At Elk | 48 cfs | → |
| Priest River Nr Priest River Id | 909 cfs | → |
| Spokane River Nr Post Falls Id | 5,040 cfs | → |
| Spokane River Blw Blackwell Nr Coeur D Alene Id | 6,310 cfs | → |
| Little Spokane River At Dartford | 163 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blanchard Creek.
Boat launches
- North Nautical Loop 30475, Kootenai County
- West Twin Lakes Road 9832, Kootenai County
- South Shore Diamond Lake Road 765-1255, Newport
- Old Diamond Mill Road 71, Oldtown
- Us 2 Priest River
- Bonner County
Campgrounds
- Mount Spokane State Park
- Albeni Cove - Oldtown
- Albeni Cove Campground
- Priest River Park
- Priest River Campgrounds
- Riley Creek
Paddle runs
- Forest Boundary, Sec. 34, T59n, R2w To Harrison Lake, Sec. 31, T62n, R2w
- Cataldo Mission To Coeur D'Alene Lake
- Coeur D"Alene River, Sec. 8, T49n, R2e To Honey Mountain, Sec. 32, T53n, R1w
- Confluence North Fork Coeur D'Alene River To Cataldo Mission
- Boundary Proposed Addition Cabinet Mtns Wilderness, Sec. To Cabinet Gorge Reservoir
Track Blanchard Creek 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 Blanchard Creek
Where does the data for Blanchard Creek 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 Blanchard Creek.