Stanislaus Forebay West dam
Stanislaus Forebay West
Stanislaus Forebay West is a privately owned hydroelectric facility located in Murphys, California, along the North Fork Stanislaus River. Completed in 1908, this Earth-type dam stands at 60 feet high and spans a length of 1000 feet, with a storage capacity of 320 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is hydroelectric power generation, making it an essential player in the region's energy infrastructure.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Stanislaus Forebay West is subject to state regulation and inspection to ensure its safety and compliance with environmental standards. With a low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment rating, the facility has emergency action plans in place to handle any potential incidents. Despite its age, the dam continues to operate efficiently, contributing to the sustainable use of water resources and climate-friendly energy production in the area.
Overall, Stanislaus Forebay West serves as a significant asset in California's water and energy landscape, providing clean and reliable hydroelectric power while maintaining a focus on safety and environmental responsibility. As climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates, it is essential to monitor and support the continued operation and maintenance of facilities like Stanislaus Forebay West to ensure a sustainable and resilient future for our communities.
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 Stanislaus Forebay West -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black C Nr Copperopolis Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Big C Ab Whites Gulch Nr Groveland Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Cherry C Bl Valley Dam Nr Hetch Hetchy Ca | 144 cfs | → |
| Cherry C Bl Dion R Holm Ph | 1,590 cfs | → |
| Cherry C Nr Early Intake Ca | 464 cfs | → |
| Tuolumne R Bl Early Intake Nr Mather Ca | 2,220 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Stanislaus Forebay West .
Boat launches
- Glory Hole Road 6503, Angels Camp
- Forest Route 1n04, Groveland
- Forest Route 1n10 Tuolumne County
- Merals Pool Put-In
Campgrounds
- Columbia Airport Campground
- Calaveras Big Trees State Park
- Frogtown Rv Park
- Sand Bar Flat Campground
- Sand Bar Flat
- Boards Crossing
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Sandbar To Confluence With North Fork Stanislaus River
- Confluence With North Fork And Middle Fork Stanislaus To Clark Flat
- Below Mckay's Reservoir To Confluence With Middle Fork Stanislaus River
- One Mile Downstream Of State Park Boundary In Sec 24, T5n, R15e To Mckay's Reservoir
- Calaveras Big Trees State Park Boundary In Sec 24, T5n, R15e To One Mile Downstream Of State Park Boundary In Sec 24, T5n, R15e
- One-Quarter Mile Downstream Of Forest Road 5n75 Bridge Crossing To Calaveras Big Trees State Park Boundary In Sec 24, T5n, R15e
Track Stanislaus Forebay West 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 Stanislaus Forebay West
Where does the data for Stanislaus Forebay West 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 Stanislaus Forebay West .