Black Butte reservoir
Black Butte
Black Butte is a volcanic peak located in the northern Sacramento Valley of California. The mountain rises to an elevation of 6,358 feet and is composed of volcanic rock. It has a long history of human use, with evidence of Native American settlements in the area dating back thousands of years. The hydrology of Black Butte is closely tied to the surrounding mountains and valleys, with surface flow from snowmelt and rainfall contributing to the region's agricultural and recreational uses. The mountain's snowpack is a key source of water for the region's farmers and ranchers, and its slopes provide opportunities for hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. Black Butte also has cultural significance, with its distinctive profile serving as a landmark for travelers and a source of inspiration for artists and writers.
Daily levels at Black Butte
Storage volume, pool elevation, and total release plotted from the operating agency's daily observations.
Storage
acre-ft · code 2
Pool Elevation
ft · code 1
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Black Butte -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Elder C Nr Paskenta Ca | 39 cfs | → |
| Mill C Nr Los Molinos Ca | 306 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Vina Ca | 255 cfs | → |
| Butte C Nr Chico Ca | 320 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R Ab Bend Bridge Nr Red Bluff Ca | 9,360 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood C Nr Cottonwood Ca | 334 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Black Butte.
Boat launches
- Sycamore Campground Boat Launch
- Red Bluff Recreation Area, Red Bluff
- Main Street 98, Red Bluff
- Biggs-Willows Road 1947, Princeton
Campgrounds
- Buckhorn - Black Butte Lake
- Orland Buttes - Black Butte Lake
- Woodson Bridge State Rec Area
- Grimy Gulch - Stony Gorge Reservoir - Usbr
- Whitlock
- Whitlock Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Road 24n01 Crossing At The "Slab" To Nf Boundary
- Deer Creek
- South Fork Cottonwood Creek
- Private Land In Sec 1, T21n, R9w To Confluence Of Cold Creek And Black Butte River
- Sacramento River
More reservoirs
Track Black Butte in the Snoflo app
Save this reservoir as a favorite and set push alerts when storage crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me at 80% of normal").
About Black Butte
Where does the data for Black Butte come from?
Daily storage, pool elevation, and release rates are sourced from USGS, USBR, and USACE monitoring stations. Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
Storage observations are updated daily by the operating agency. The 15-day weather forecast refreshes throughout the day. Snoflo caches and renders the most recent observation -- check the "as of" timestamp on the storage card.
What does the Hazard hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this reservoir, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Black Butte.