Lake Wyandotte dam
Lake Wyandotte
Lake Wyandotte, located in Butte, California, is a public utility water reservoir primarily used for flood risk reduction, irrigation, and water supply. Built in 1924, this earth dam stands at a height of 46 feet and has a storage capacity of 313 acre-feet. With a surface area of 18 acres and a drainage area of 3 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Managed by the California State agency, DWR, Safety of Dams, Lake Wyandotte is subject to regular inspections and enforcement to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam has a high hazard potential but is currently assessed to be in satisfactory condition as of September 2017. In the event of an emergency, the dam does not have a designated Emergency Action Plan (EAP), but efforts have been made to meet guidelines and update emergency contacts.
With its strategic location in Honcut and its role in flood risk reduction, Lake Wyandotte serves as a vital infrastructure for water management in the region. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and oversight of dams like Lake Wyandotte will be crucial in ensuring the safety and sustainability of water supplies for the community.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
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 Lake Wyandotte -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deer C Nr Smartville Ca | 26 cfs | → |
| Butte C Nr Chico Ca | 303 cfs | → |
| Yuba R Nr Marysville Ca | 1,300 cfs | → |
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 501 cfs | → |
| Bear R Nr Wheatland Ca | 102 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R A Colusa Ca | 7,710 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Wyandotte.
Boat launches
- Loafer Creek Road, Oroville
- Butte County
- Bidwell Canyon Trail, Oroville
- Potters Ravine, Oroville
- River Bluff Drive 39, Oroville
Campgrounds
- Loafer Creek - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
- Bidwell Canyon - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
- Feather Falls
- Collins Lake Rv Park & Campground
- Madrone Cove Campground
- Limesaddle - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
Fishing spots
- Oroville Lake
- Merle Collins Reservoir
- Thermalito Afterbay
- Bullards Bar Reservoir
- Englebright Lake
- Bucks Lake
Paddle runs
- Nelsons Crossing To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr
- Highway 70 Crossing To Lake Oroville
- Bear Gulch To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr
- One-Quarter Mile Upstream From Confluence With Slate Creek To Bullards Bar Reservoir Spillway (Elevation 1902 Feet)
- Forest Road 94 To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr
- One-Eighth Mile Downstream From Confluence With Cherokee Creek To One-Quarter Mile Upstream From Confluence With Slate Creek
Track Lake Wyandotte in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Lake Wyandotte
Where does the data for Lake Wyandotte come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High 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 dam, 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 Lake Wyandotte.