Woodward dam
Woodward
Woodward is a public utility hydroelectric dam located in Farmington, California, along Simmons Creek. Built in 1918, this earth dam stands at a height of 57.5 feet and has a storage capacity of 35,435 acre-feet. Its primary purposes include hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and water supply for the region. The dam is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and is subject to regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its age, Woodward Dam is considered to be in fair condition with a high hazard potential. The dam's last inspection was conducted in March 2021, and its Emergency Action Plan (EAP) was last revised in February 2021. While the dam's hazard potential is classified as high, it meets state guidelines for emergency preparedness. Although there are no specific risk assessment or management measures outlined for the dam, its condition is regularly monitored to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and water resources.
Woodward Dam plays a crucial role in providing water resources and hydroelectric power to the region. It is an integral part of California's infrastructure, serving multiple purposes while being subject to strict regulatory oversight to maintain its structural integrity and safety standards. Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find Woodward's history and operational details to be a fascinating example of sustainable water management practices in action.
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 Woodward -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black C Nr Copperopolis Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Stanislaus R A Ripon Ca | 1,930 cfs | → |
| Tuolumne R A Modesto Ca | 190 cfs | → |
| San Joaquin R Nr Vernalis Ca | 2,320 cfs | → |
| Modesto Cn Nr La Grange Ca | 834 cfs | → |
| Tuolumne R Bl Lagrange Dam Nr Lagrange Ca | 186 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Woodward.
Campgrounds
- Woodward Reservoir
- Horseshoe Road Recreation Area & Campground
- South Lake Tulloch R.V. Campground & Marina
- Modesto Reservoir
- Caswell Memorial State Park
- Ironhorse- Glory Hole Area - New Melones Lake
Fishing spots
Track Woodward 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 Woodward
Where does the data for Woodward 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 Woodward.