Paddock Valley
Paddock Valley is a dam located in Washington County, Idaho, built in 1949. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Paddock Valley
The primary purpose of Paddock Valley is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is private-owned. It impounds the Indian Creek Little Willow Creek.
The dam stands 49 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,302 acres, has a storage capacity of 22,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 35 square miles. Completed in 1949, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/04/2020.
At 49 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Idaho dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Idaho |
| County | Washington |
| River/Stream | Indian Creek Little Willow Creek |
| Coordinates | 44.19830, -116.59890 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1949 (77 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 22,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 22,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,302 acres |
| Drainage Area | 35 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 350 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/04/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ID00250 |
| Federal ID | ID00250 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |