Milner S Embankment

About Milner S Embankment

The primary purpose of Milner S Embankment is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. It impounds the Snake near Murtaugh.

The dam stands 65 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4,000 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 39,000 acre-feet. Completed in 1992, the structure is 34 years 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/17/2022.

At 65 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.

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.

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