Ponderosa dam
Ponderosa
Ponderosa is a significant hydroelectric dam located in Oroville, California, along the South Fork Feather River. Built in 1962, this earth dam stands at a height of 157 feet and serves multiple purposes including hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and water supply. With a normal storage capacity of 4750 acre-feet, Ponderosa plays a crucial role in water management in the region.
Operated by a public utility, Ponderosa is regulated by various state and federal agencies including the California Department of Water Resources and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The dam's spillway type is controlled with a width of 97 feet, ensuring efficient water release during peak flow periods. Despite its low hazard potential, Ponderosa is categorized as having a very high risk due to its structural and environmental significance.
With a drainage area of 108.3 square miles, Ponderosa provides essential water resources for the surrounding area and supports the local ecosystem. Managed and inspected regularly, this dam continues to be a vital infrastructure for water management and renewable energy production in Butte County, California.
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 Ponderosa -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 549 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Smartville Ca | 40 cfs | → |
| Butte C Nr Chico Ca | 295 cfs | → |
| Yuba R Nr Marysville Ca | 1,500 cfs | → |
| Spanish C A Quincy Ca | 53 cfs | → |
| Spanish C Ab Blackhawk C At Keddie Ca | 107 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ponderosa .
Boat launches
- Butte County
- Loafer Creek Road, Oroville
- Bidwell Canyon Trail, Oroville
- Potters Ravine, Oroville
- River Bluff Drive 39, Oroville
Campgrounds
- Feather Falls
- Loafer Creek - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
- Bidwell Canyon - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
- Madrone Cove Campground
- Golden Trout
- Golden Trout Crossing
Fishing spots
- Oroville Lake
- Bullards Bar Reservoir
- Merle Collins Reservoir
- Thermalito Afterbay
- Englebright Lake
- Bucks Lake
Paddle runs
- Nelsons Crossing 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
- Bear Gulch 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
- Slate Reservoir To North Yuba River
Track Ponderosa 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 Ponderosa
Where does the data for Ponderosa 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 Ponderosa .