Black Canyon Diversion dam
Black Canyon Diversion
Black Canyon Diversion is a key water infrastructure located in Gem County, Idaho, along the Payette River. Built in 1923, this concrete gravity dam stands at 183 feet tall and serves multiple purposes, including hydroelectric power generation and irrigation. Managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, the dam has a storage capacity of 29,822 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 39,060 cubic feet per second.
With a high hazard potential and very high risk assessment rating, Black Canyon Diversion plays a critical role in managing water resources in the region. Its controlled spillway and advanced engineering make it a vital piece of infrastructure for water management and flood control. The dam is regularly inspected and regulated by the Bureau of Reclamation to ensure its safe operation and maintenance.
Black Canyon Diversion is not only a functional piece of infrastructure for water resource management but also a historic landmark in Idaho's landscape. Its impact on the local environment and communities underscores the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of changing climate patterns. As water resource enthusiasts, understanding the significance of structures like Black Canyon Diversion is crucial for promoting resilience and conservation in the face of evolving climate challenges.
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 Black Canyon Diversion -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Payette River Nr Emmett Id | 5,450 cfs | → |
| Payette River Nr Letha Id | 4,240 cfs | → |
| Payette River Nr Horseshoe Bend Id | 6,140 cfs | → |
| Spring Valley Creek Nr Eagle Id | 0 cfs | → |
| Dry Creek Nr Eagle Id | 0 cfs | → |
| Eagle Drain At Eagle | 44 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Black Canyon Diversion.
Boat launches
- Parnell Recreation Site
- Beehive Bend
- Banks River Access
- Look Lane 21723, Canyon County
- Deer Creek
- Confluence
Campgrounds
- Montour
- Paddock Reservoir
- Shafer Butte
- Shafer Butte Cg And Group Sites - Reserve - Tent
- Swinging Bridge Campground - Reserve
- Swinging Bridge
Paddle runs
- Boise Nf Boundary (1 Mile East Of Banks) To Boise Nf Boundary (1 Mile South Of Banks)
- Boise Nf Boundary To Confluence With Payette River
- South Fork Payette
- Long Gulch To Boise Nf Boundary
- Confluence With Granite Creek To Confluence With Pine Creek
- Confluence With Bell Creek To Boiling Springs Cabin
Track Black Canyon Diversion 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 Black Canyon Diversion
Where does the data for Black Canyon Diversion 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 Black Canyon Diversion.