Philbrook Saddle dam
Philbrook Saddle
Philbrook Saddle, located in Stirling City, California, is a privately-owned dam with a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation. Completed in 1926, this earth dam stands at a height of 24 feet and has a length of 470 feet, with a storage capacity of 5009 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Philbrook Creek, within Butte County, and is regulated by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Philbrook Saddle is classified as having a low hazard potential, with a moderate risk assessment rating. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, with a width of 30 feet to manage a maximum discharge of 2075 cubic feet per second. While the condition assessment is not available, regular inspections are conducted, with the last inspection dating back to July 2019. The Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in October 2020, ensuring preparedness for any potential risks or emergencies.
Overall, Philbrook Saddle serves as an essential infrastructure for water resource management and renewable energy production in the region. Its historical significance, coupled with its modern regulatory oversight and risk management measures, highlights its importance in sustaining both water resources and climate resilience in the area.
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 Saddle -- 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 Saddle .
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
- Butte Creek
- Elam Creek Campground To Deer Creek-Highway 32 Junction
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With Yellow Creek
More reservoirs
Track Philbrook Saddle 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 Saddle
Where does the data for Philbrook Saddle 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 Low 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 Saddle .