Idaho Falls Upper Powerhouse Dam No 2 dam
Idaho Falls Upper Powerhouse Dam No 2
Idaho Falls Upper Powerhouse Dam No 2, also known as Upper Power Dam, is a concrete multi-arch dam located in Bonneville, Idaho. Completed in 1982, the dam stands at a height of 36.5 feet and has a hydraulic height of 29.7 feet. It serves the primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation and is owned by a public utility in Idaho Falls. With a normal storage capacity of 424 acre-feet and a drainage area of 9,050 square miles, the dam plays a significant role in water resource management in the region.
Situated on the Snake River and Columbia River, the Idaho Falls Upper Powerhouse Dam No 2 has a spillway width of 40 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 13,500 cubic feet per second. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's risk assessment is rated as very high, warranting proper risk management measures. The dam is regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and operational safety. With its vital role in hydroelectric power generation and water storage, the dam remains a key infrastructure for both the local community and the broader region.
Overall, the Idaho Falls Upper Powerhouse Dam No 2 stands as a crucial piece of infrastructure in Idaho's water resource management and renewable energy production efforts. Its strategic location on the Snake River and Columbia River, coupled with its significant storage capacity and high-risk assessment, underscores the importance of proper maintenance and monitoring. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the dam's role in ensuring a reliable water supply and sustainable energy generation becomes increasingly vital for the resilience of the region's water and energy 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 Idaho Falls Upper Powerhouse Dam No 2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Willow Cr Floodway Channel At Mouth Nr Id Falls Id | 4 cfs | → |
| Great Western Spillback Nr Idaho Falls Id | 63 cfs | → |
| Snake River Ab Eagle Rock Nr Idaho Falls Id | 5,250 cfs | → |
| Willow Creek Bl Floodway Channel Nr Ucon Id | 98 cfs | → |
| Willow Creek Floodway Channel Nr Ucon Id | 0 cfs | → |
| Sand Creek Ab Willow Creek Div Nr Ucon Id | 401 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Idaho Falls Upper Powerhouse Dam No 2.
Boat launches
- River Parkway Downtown
- East 1250 North Bingham County
- Menan Butte
- Bonneville County
- East Lincoln Road Bonneville County
- Lorenzo Boat Access
Campgrounds
- Idaho Falls North Tourist Park
- Jefferson County Lake
- Juniper Park - Ririe Reservoir
- Juniper Co Park
- Twin Bridges Co Park
- Kepp's Crossing Dispersed Camping Area
Track Idaho Falls Upper Powerhouse Dam No 2 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 Idaho Falls Upper Powerhouse Dam No 2
Where does the data for Idaho Falls Upper Powerhouse Dam No 2 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 Idaho Falls Upper Powerhouse Dam No 2.