Kunkle dam
Kunkle
Kunkle Reservoir, located in Butte, California, is a privately owned dam with a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation. Built in 1907, this earth dam stands at a height of 54 feet and has a storage capacity of 155 acre-feet. The reservoir is situated on the Tr W Br Feather River and is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources for safety and inspections.
With a significant hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of September 2017, Kunkle Reservoir plays a crucial role in water supply and hydroelectricity in the region. Despite being privately owned, the dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, and inspection, ensuring that it meets safety standards and environmental guidelines. The dam's last inspection was conducted in July 2020, with a regular inspection frequency in place to monitor its structural integrity and overall safety.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Kunkle Reservoir offers a fascinating look into the intersection of human engineering and natural water systems. As a key infrastructure for both water supply and hydroelectric power, this dam serves as a critical component of the region's water management and energy production. With its historical significance dating back over a century and ongoing regulatory oversight, Kunkle Reservoir exemplifies the complex relationship between human development and environmental stewardship in ensuring sustainable water resource management.
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 Kunkle -- 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 | → |
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 549 cfs | → |
| Yuba R Nr Marysville Ca | 1,500 cfs | → |
| Spanish C A Quincy Ca | 53 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kunkle.
Boat launches
- Potters Ravine, Oroville
- Bidwell Canyon Trail, Oroville
- Butte County
- Loafer Creek Road, Oroville
- River Bluff Drive 39, Oroville
Campgrounds
- Limesaddle - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
- Bidwell Canyon - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
- Forks Of Butte Creek
- Loafer Creek - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
- Rogers Cow Camp (Family )
- Rogers Cow Camp
Fishing spots
- Oroville Lake
- Thermalito Afterbay
- Bucks Lake
- Merle Collins Reservoir
- Bullards Bar Reservoir
- Englebright Lake
Paddle runs
- Highway 70 Crossing To Lake Oroville
- Poe Dam To Highway 70 Crossing
- Cresta Dam To Poe Reservoir (Camp Creek)
- Butte Creek
- Rock Creek Dam To Cresta Reservoir
- Bear Gulch To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr
More reservoirs
Track Kunkle 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 Kunkle
Where does the data for Kunkle 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 Significant 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 Kunkle.