Slate Creek dam
Slate Creek
Slate Creek in California is a captivating water resource for hydroelectric power, irrigation, and water supply. Constructed in 1961, this concrete dam stands at a height of 68 feet, with a hydraulic height of 46 feet and a structural height of 70 feet. Located in Plumas County, the dam has a storage capacity of 643 acre-feet and serves a drainage area of 49.4 square miles. With a maximum discharge of 35,000 cubic feet per second, Slate Creek Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Slate Creek Dam is inspected regularly to ensure its safety and functionality. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam is considered to be in satisfactory condition. Although the condition assessment is not available, emergency action plans and risk management measures are in place to address any potential incidents. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 212 feet, providing a vital safety feature in case of excess water flow.
Slate Creek Dam's primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation contributes to the sustainable development of the region's energy resources. With its strategic location and design by Bechtel, the dam serves as a key infrastructure for water management and electricity production in Plumas County. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the intricacies of Slate Creek Dam's operations and regulatory oversight offer a fascinating insight into the intersection of engineering, environmental protection, and resource management.
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 Slate Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Truckee R Bl Div Dam Nr Sierraville Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Independence C Nr Truckee Ca | 34 cfs | → |
| Sagehen C Nr Truckee Ca | 11 cfs | → |
| Donner C A Donner Lk Nr Truckee Ca | 24 cfs | → |
| Donner C At Hwy 89 Nr Truckee Ca | 84 cfs | → |
| Truckee R Nr Truckee Ca | 471 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Slate Creek .
Boat launches
- Peninsula Road, Strawberry Valley
- Plumas County
- Smokey Lane 44-50, Alleghany
- Oroville-Quincy Road 17000-17046, Meadow Valley
- Butte County
Campgrounds
- Sly Creek Recreation Area
- Sly Creek
- Sly Creek Campground
- Golden Trout
- Golden Trout Crossing
- Cal-Ida Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Slate Reservoir
- Slate Reservoir To North Yuba River
- Confluence With South Fork Canyon Creek To Confluence With North Yuba River
- One-Eighth Mile Downstream From Confluence With Cherokee Creek To One-Quarter Mile Upstream From Confluence With Slate Creek
- One-Quarter Mile Upstream From Confluence With Slate Creek To Bullards Bar Reservoir Spillway (Elevation 1902 Feet)
- Headwaters Of North Yuba River (Sec 10, T20n, R13 E) To One-Eighth Mile Downstream Of Confluence With Cherokee Creek
Track Slate Creek 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 Slate Creek
Where does the data for Slate Creek 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 Low 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 Slate Creek .