Butt Valley dam
Butt Valley
Butt Valley, located in Little Haven, California, is a private hydroelectric dam on Butt Creek completed in 1924. With a height of 70 feet and a length of 1520 feet, this earth dam provides a storage capacity of nearly 50,000 acre-feet, serving as a vital water resource in the region. The dam has a high hazard potential and is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, ensuring its safety and compliance with inspection and enforcement measures.
The dam's primary purpose is hydroelectric power generation, with a normal storage capacity of 49,800 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 30,000 cubic feet per second. Its uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 150 feet, helps manage excess water flow during peak periods. Despite its age, Butt Valley Dam continues to be a significant feature in the region's water infrastructure, supporting both water supply and energy generation needs. Climate and water resource enthusiasts are drawn to the dam's historical significance and its role in sustainable water management practices.
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 Butt Valley -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish C Ab Blackhawk C At Keddie Ca | 116 cfs | → |
| Spanish C A Quincy Ca | 54 cfs | → |
| Butte C Nr Chico Ca | 332 cfs | → |
| Hat C Nr Hat Creek Ca | 166 cfs | → |
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 459 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Vina Ca | 214 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Butt Valley .
Boat launches
- Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, California
- Plumas County
- Oroville-Quincy Road 17000-17046, Meadow Valley
- Peninsula Road, Strawberry Valley
- Lost Cove Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Cool Springs
- Ponderosa Flat
- Feather River/Rocky Point - Lake Almanor
- Rocky Point - Feather River
- Queen Lily
- Almanor Campground
Fishing spots
- Butt Valley Reservoir
- Almanor Lake
- Hamilton Branch
- Deerheart Creek
- Mountain Meadows Reservoir
- Goodrich Creek
Paddle runs
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With Yellow Creek
- Confluence Of Spanish Creek And Indian Creek To Confluence With North Fork Feather River
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Feather River
- Caribou Reservoir To Beldon
- Pond In Sec 35, T26n, R9e To Confluence With Spanish Creek
More reservoirs
Track Butt Valley 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 Butt Valley
Where does the data for Butt Valley 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 Butt Valley .