Rock Creek dam
Rock Creek
Rock Creek, located in Plumas, California, is a private hydroelectric dam that has been regulated and permitted by the state. Built in 1950, this concrete gravity dam stands at a height of 126 feet and has a storage capacity of 4400 acre-feet. With a normal storage of 1590 acre-feet and a drainage area of 1771 square miles, Rock Creek plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
The dam's spillway, with a width of 60 feet, is controlled to manage the maximum discharge of 280,000 cubic feet per second. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is not available, indicating a need for further evaluation of its safety measures. The emergency action plan has been prepared and last revised in December 2020, highlighting the importance of risk management and emergency preparedness for this critical infrastructure.
With its proximity to the North Fork Feather River, Rock Creek serves as a key component of the region's water infrastructure, providing not only hydroelectric power but also flood control and water supply management. As climate change continues to impact water resources, ensuring the safety and efficiency of dams like Rock Creek is essential for sustainable water management in 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 Rock Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish C Ab Blackhawk C At Keddie Ca | 118 cfs | → |
| Spanish C A Quincy Ca | 58 cfs | → |
| Butte C Nr Chico Ca | 320 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Vina Ca | 249 cfs | → |
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 631 cfs | → |
| Mill C Nr Los Molinos Ca | 298 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rock Creek .
Boat launches
- Plumas County
- Oroville-Quincy Road 17000-17046, Meadow Valley
- Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, California
- Peninsula Road, Strawberry Valley
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Caribou Reservoir To Beldon
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Feather River
- Confluence Of Spanish Creek And Indian Creek To Confluence With North Fork Feather River
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With Yellow Creek
More reservoirs
Track Rock Creek 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 Rock Creek
Where does the data for Rock Creek 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 Rock Creek .