Blacks Creek
Blacks Creek is a dam located in Ada County, Idaho, built in 1915. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Blacks Creek
Blacks Creek is a dam in Ada, Idaho. The dam is private-owned. It impounds the Blacks Creek Tenmile Creek near Meridian.
The dam stands 52 feet tall and stretches 1,700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 220 acres, has a storage capacity of 3,640 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 39 square miles. Completed in 1915, 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 08/31/2020.
At 52 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Ada |
| Nearest City | Meridian |
| River/Stream | Blacks Creek Tenmile Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.46230, -116.14610 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1915 (111 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,640 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,640 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 220 acres |
| Drainage Area | 39 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/31/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ID00208 |
| Federal ID | ID00208 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |