Dry Creek Main dam
Dry Creek Main
Dry Creek Main, located in Idaho, is a private irrigation dam built in 1976 on the Dry Creek and Big Willow Creek rivers. Standing at a height of 67.81 feet with a storage capacity of 1859.1 acre-feet, this earth dam plays a vital role in the irrigation of surrounding lands. Despite a fair condition assessment, the dam poses a high hazard potential and is regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources.
With a spillway width of 300 feet and an uncontrolled spillway type, the dam's infrastructure includes a slide gate for outlet control. The surrounding area covers a surface area of 160 acres and has a drainage area of 2.58 square miles. The last inspection in May 2020 revealed a moderate risk level, prompting the need for a comprehensive risk management plan to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the structure.
Dry Creek Main serves as a critical water resource for agricultural activities in the region, highlighting the importance of maintaining its integrity and functionality. As climate change continues to impact water availability and usage patterns, ensuring the sustainability of dams like Dry Creek Main is essential for supporting the local ecosystem and economy. With proper regulation, inspection, and maintenance, this dam will continue to play a vital role in water management for years to come.
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 Dry Creek Main -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Payette River Nr Emmett Id | 5,080 cfs | → |
| Payette River Nr Letha Id | 4,450 cfs | → |
| Weiser River Nr Weiser Id | 734 cfs | → |
| Crane Creek At Mouth Nr Weiser Id | 4 cfs | → |
| Payette River Nr Payette Id | 5,000 cfs | → |
| Payette River Nr Horseshoe Bend Id | 6,170 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dry Creek Main.
Boat launches
- Beehive Bend
- Ontario State Park
- Parnell Recreation Site
- Banks River Access
- Nyssa River Park
- Antelope Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Paddock Reservoir
- Montour
- Crane Creek Reservoir
- Swinging Bridge
- Swinging Bridge Campground - Reserve
- Cold Springs Group Only Campground - Reserve
Track Dry Creek Main 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 Dry Creek Main
Where does the data for Dry Creek Main 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 Dry Creek Main.