Macks Creek dam
Macks Creek
Macks Creek is a privately owned dam located in Owyhee County, Idaho, along Highway 78. Completed in 1993, this rockfill dam stands at a height of 58.3 feet and has a storage capacity of 469 acre-feet. The dam serves the primary purpose of water resource management and is regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources.
With a significant hazard potential and a fair condition assessment as of May 2018, Macks Creek is equipped with a slide gate outlet and an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 160 feet. The dam is situated on Macks Creek, a tributary of Reynolds Creek, and has a drainage area of 12.3 square miles. The dam's maximum discharge capacity is 780 cubic feet per second, making it a crucial structure for flood control and water supply in the region.
Despite its moderate risk assessment, Macks Creek has not undergone recent modifications or emergency action plan updates. The dam is inspected every four years to ensure its safe operation and compliance with state regulations. With its strategic location and essential role in water management, Macks Creek remains a key infrastructure for climate and water resource enthusiasts to monitor and study in the dynamic landscape of Idaho's water systems.
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 Macks Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Snake River Nr Murphy Id | 8,550 cfs | → |
| Boise River At Caldwell | 1,500 cfs | → |
| Mason Creek Nr Caldwell Id | 46 cfs | → |
| Mason Creek At Caldwell Id | 142 cfs | → |
| Fifteenmile Creek Nr Midland Blvd Nr Middleton | 53 cfs | → |
| W Hartley Gulch Nr Caldwell Id | 29 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Macks Creek.
Boat launches
- Marsing Murphy Road 12985, Owyhee County
- Celebration Park
- South Swan Falls Road Ada County
- Upper Embankment Road Canyon County
- Leslie Gulch Road Malheur County
Campgrounds
- Celebration County Park
- Silver City
- Silver City Campground
- Swan Falls Campground
- Swan Falls - Idaho Power
- Succor Creek State Natural Area
Paddle runs
Track Macks 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 Macks Creek
Where does the data for Macks 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 Macks Creek.