Magalia dam
Magalia
Magalia, located in Butte County, California, is home to a crucial water supply dam known as Magalia Dam. Completed in 1918, this earth dam stands at a height of 103 feet and has a hydraulic height of 89.3 feet, providing a storage capacity of 2900 acre-feet. The dam serves the primary purpose of water supply for irrigation and other uses in the region, drawing water from the Little Butte Creek.
Despite its historical significance and essential function, Magalia Dam poses a high hazard potential and has been assessed to be in poor condition as of March 2019. The dam is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. With a distance of 15 miles from the city of Chico and under the jurisdiction of the state, Magalia Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area and mitigating potential risks associated with its operation. Climate and water resource enthusiasts are encouraged to stay informed about the maintenance and management of Magalia Dam to support sustainable water management practices in the region.
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 Magalia -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Butte C Nr Chico Ca | 295 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Vina Ca | 232 cfs | → |
| Mill C Nr Los Molinos Ca | 272 cfs | → |
| Spanish C A Quincy Ca | 53 cfs | → |
| Spanish C Ab Blackhawk C At Keddie Ca | 107 cfs | → |
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 549 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Magalia.
Boat launches
- Potters Ravine, Oroville
- Bidwell Canyon Trail, Oroville
- Butte County
- Loafer Creek Road, Oroville
- River Bluff Drive 39, Oroville
Campgrounds
- Forks Of Butte Creek
- Limesaddle - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
- Rogers Cow Camp (Family )
- Rogers Cow Camp
- West Branch
- Philbrook - Feather River
Fishing spots
- Oroville Lake
- Bucks Lake
- Thermalito Afterbay
- Butt Valley Reservoir
- Merle Collins Reservoir
- Bullards Bar Reservoir
Track Magalia 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 Magalia
Where does the data for Magalia 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 Magalia.