Salmon Falls Dam

Salmon Falls Dam is a dam constructed across Salmon Falls Creek in Twin Falls County, Idaho, in the United States. Located about 28 miles (45 km) southwest of Twin Falls, the masonry arch-gravity dam is 217 feet (66 m) high and 450 feet (140 m) long, impounding up to 230,650 acre-feet (0.28450 km3) of water in Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir.[1] When full, the reservoir extends for 17 miles (27 km) upstream, encompassing 3,400 acres (1,400 ha). The dam and reservoir control runoff from a drainage basin of 1,610 sq mi (4,200 km2).[1]

Salmon Falls Dam
Salmon Falls Dam shortly after completion in 1910
Salmon Falls Dam is located in Idaho
Salmon Falls Dam
Location in Idaho
Salmon Falls Dam is located in the United States
Salmon Falls Dam
Location in United States
CountryUnited States
LocationTwin Falls County, Idaho
Coordinates42°12′43″N 114°44′04″W
PurposeIrrigation
Opening date1910
Owner(s)Salmon River Canal Company
Dam and spillways
Type of damConcrete gravity arch
ImpoundsSalmon Falls Creek
Height217 ft (66 m)[1]
Length450 ft (140 m)[1]
Reservoir
CreatesSalmon Falls Creek Reservoir
Total capacity230,650 acre⋅ft (284,500 dam3)[1]
Catchment area1,610 sq mi (4,200 km2)[1]
Surface area3,400 acres (1,400 ha)[1]
Maximum length14 mi (23 km)
Normal elevation5,010 ft (1,527 m)[2]

The dam was built in 1910 to provide irrigation water storage, and is owned and operated by the Salmon River Canal Company.[3] A secondary purpose is flood control: the dam has spilled floodwaters twice, in 1984 and 2017. Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir is also a popular recreational lake, and is considered one of the best fisheries in southern Idaho.[4]

The dam was the third-largest dam in the world at the time of its construction. It was part of a major reclamation effort which partly failed due less water being available than planned, partly due to unexpected leakage of water through the lava rock used in the dam's construction.[5]

The Milner Dam (1904) was more successful.[5]

The Salmon Falls Tract, the associated reclamation project, was originally termed the Salmon River Tract, and the dam was named the Salmon Dam. That naming "was chosen over Salmon Falls because the project promoters believed it had more appeal, although the dam’s name was changed back to Salmon Falls".[6]

Historic site
Salmon Falls Dam
Nearest cityRogerson, Idaho
Area10 acres (4.0 ha)
Built1908–1910
EngineerAndrew J. Wiley
Architectural styleConcrete Arch Dam
NRHP reference No.09000328[7]
Added to NRHPMay 15, 2009

The Salmon Falls Dam was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. The listing included a contributing building and six contributing structures in addition to the dam itself, on 10 acres (4.0 ha).[7] The dam's engineer was Andrew J. Wiley. The historic listing includes the dam, one building, and seven other structures.[8]

  • Salmon Falls Creek Dam viewed from the west
    Salmon Falls Creek Dam viewed from the west
  • Salmon Falls Creek Dam viewed from the east
    Salmon Falls Creek Dam viewed from the east
  • View south up the Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir from the east end of the Salmon Falls Creek Dam
    View south up the Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir from the east end of the Salmon Falls Creek Dam

See also

References
  1. "Salmon Falls Dam". National Performance of Dams Program. Stanford University. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Salmon Falls Dam
  3. "History". Salmon River Canal Company. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  4. "Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir". Burley Recreation. U.S. Bureau of Land Management. July 22, 2011. Archived from the original on May 10, 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  5. Virginia Ricketts; Elizabeth Egleston (April 10, 1991). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Hollister School / Hollister Elementary; 007973". National Park Service. Retrieved September 21, 2019. With accompanying two photos from 1991
  6. "Planning for Paradise: Idaho's Salmon Falls Dam" (PDF). Fall 2008.
  7. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  8. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Salmon Falls Dam". National Park Service. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
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