Upper Salmon Falls Dam is a concrete dam located in Gooding County, Idaho, built in 1937. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall and 1,620 ft long, taller than 74% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Upper Salmon Falls Dam
The primary purpose of Upper Salmon Falls Dam is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Idaho Power Company (private). It impounds the Snake River.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 1,620 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 50 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 32,200 square miles. Completed in 1937, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 09/20/2017.
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Location
| State | Idaho |
| County | Gooding |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Snake River |
| Coordinates | 42.76560, -114.89530 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,620 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 600 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 50 acres |
| Drainage Area | 32,200 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 48,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Idaho Power Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/20/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ID00224 |
| Federal ID | ID00224 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |