Forbestown Diversion dam
Forbestown Diversion
Forbestown Diversion, located in Forbestown Powerhouse, California, is a public utility facility designed by Bechtel for hydroelectric purposes. The dam, completed in 1962, is a concrete structure standing at 81 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 80 feet. It serves multiple purposes including hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and water supply, with a storage capacity of 352 acre-feet.
The dam, situated on the South Fork Feather River, has a spillway width of 230 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 45,400 cubic feet per second. Despite its low hazard potential, the facility is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement through the Department of Water Resources and the Safety of Dams program. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission oversees its operation, inspections, and regulatory compliance.
With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, Forbestown Diversion is a critical infrastructure for water resource management in Butte County. The facility's emergency action plan was last revised in November 2020, ensuring preparedness for any unforeseen events. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the unique design and functionality of this essential water infrastructure, serving both the community and the environment.
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 Forbestown Diversion -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 569 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Smartville Ca | 41 cfs | → |
| Butte C Nr Chico Ca | 311 cfs | → |
| Spanish C A Quincy Ca | 54 cfs | → |
| Yuba R Nr Marysville Ca | 1,530 cfs | → |
| Spanish C Ab Blackhawk C At Keddie Ca | 109 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Forbestown Diversion .
Boat launches
- Butte County
- Loafer Creek Road, Oroville
- Bidwell Canyon Trail, Oroville
- Potters Ravine, Oroville
- Yuba County
Campgrounds
- Golden Trout
- Golden Trout Crossing
- Sly Creek Campground
- Sly Creek
- Sly Creek Recreation Area
- Madrone Cove Campground
Fishing spots
- Bullards Bar Reservoir
- Oroville Lake
- Merle Collins Reservoir
- Englebright Lake
- Bucks Lake
- Scotts Flat Lake
Paddle runs
- One-Quarter Mile Upstream From Confluence With Slate Creek To Bullards Bar Reservoir Spillway (Elevation 1902 Feet)
- One-Eighth Mile Downstream From Confluence With Cherokee Creek To One-Quarter Mile Upstream From Confluence With Slate Creek
- Slate Reservoir To North Yuba River
- Nelsons Crossing To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr
- Confluence With South Fork Canyon Creek To Confluence With North Yuba River
- Headwaters Of North Yuba River (Sec 10, T20n, R13 E) To One-Eighth Mile Downstream Of Confluence With Cherokee Creek
Track Forbestown Diversion 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 Forbestown Diversion
Where does the data for Forbestown Diversion 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 Forbestown Diversion .