Murtaugh Lake
Murtaugh Lake is a dam located in Twin Falls County, Idaho, built in 1905. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Murtaugh Lake
The primary purpose of Murtaugh Lake 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 Dry Creek Snake River near Murtaugh.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 8,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 827 acres, has a storage capacity of 7,720 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 238 square miles. Completed in 1905, the structure is over a century old.
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 10/22/2019.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% 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 | Twin Falls |
| Nearest City | Murtaugh |
| River/Stream | Dry Creek Snake River |
| Coordinates | 42.46920, -114.16760 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 8,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1905 (121 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,720 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,720 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 827 acres |
| Drainage Area | 238 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/22/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ID00165 |
| Federal ID | ID00165 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |