Philbrook Main dam
Philbrook Main
Philbrook Main is a privately-owned dam located in Stirling City, California, along Philbrook Creek. Built in 1926, this Earth dam stands at a height of 87 feet and stretches 850 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 5009 acre-feet. The primary purpose of this structure is for hydroelectric power generation, making it an essential resource for renewable energy in the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Philbrook Main is subject to state regulation and inspection, ensuring its safety and compliance with dam standards. With a high hazard potential and a very high risk assessment, emergency preparedness measures are crucial for the surrounding area. Despite its age, the dam's condition assessment is not available, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential risks.
Overall, Philbrook Main serves as a vital component of California's water resource infrastructure, providing both hydroelectric power and water storage benefits. As climate change impacts water resources, the proper management and upkeep of dams like Philbrook Main are crucial for ensuring a sustainable and resilient water supply for the region. Enthusiasts in water resources and climate change will find this dam's history, design, and operational details intriguing as they study the intersection of water management and environmental sustainability.
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 Philbrook Main -- 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 | → |
| Spanish C Ab Blackhawk C At Keddie Ca | 107 cfs | → |
| Spanish C A Quincy Ca | 53 cfs | → |
| Mill C Nr Los Molinos Ca | 272 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R Ab Bend Bridge Nr Red Bluff Ca | 9,780 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Philbrook Main .
Boat launches
- Plumas County
- Oroville-Quincy Road 17000-17046, Meadow Valley
- Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, California
Campgrounds
- Philbrook - Feather River
- West Branch
- Cherry Hill Campground
- Cherry Hill
- Butte Meadows
- Butte Meadows Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Feather River
- Big Chico Creek
- Elam Creek Campground To Deer Creek-Highway 32 Junction
- Butte Creek
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With Yellow Creek
More reservoirs
Track Philbrook Main 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 Philbrook Main
Where does the data for Philbrook Main 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 Philbrook Main .