Pit No. 3 Diversion dam
Pit No. 3 Diversion
Pit No. 3 Diversion, located in Big Bend, California, is a privately owned hydroelectric facility on the Pit River. Completed in 1925, this concrete dam stands at a height of 135 feet and has a storage capacity of 41,907 acre-feet. With a maximum discharge of 70,000 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Pit No. 3 Diversion has a controlled spillway width of 254 feet and is subject to regular state inspections and enforcement. The dam is considered to have a high hazard potential, with a very high risk assessment rating. Despite its age, this vital infrastructure continues to provide clean energy and water supply for the surrounding communities while adhering to strict regulatory standards to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
With its historical significance and critical role in the local ecosystem, Pit No. 3 Diversion serves as a prime example of sustainable water resource management and climate resilience. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the careful monitoring and maintenance of dams like Pit No. 3 are essential for ensuring reliable access to water and energy for future generations.
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 Pit No. 3 Diversion -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Burney C A Burney Falls Nr Burney Ca | 168 cfs | → |
| Pit R Bl Pit No 1 Ph Nr Fall River Mills Ca | 1,320 cfs | → |
| Hat C Nr Hat Creek Ca | 166 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R A Delta Ca | 461 cfs | → |
| Cow C Nr Millville Ca | 159 cfs | → |
| Pit R Nr Canby Ca | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pit No. 3 Diversion .
Campgrounds
- Mcarthur - Burney Falls State Park
- Dusty Campground
- Dusty Camp
- Pit River
- Pit River/Cassel
- Inter-Mountain Fair Of Shasta County
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Lower Pit River Canyon
- Begins Immediately Southwest Of Fall River Mills, Ca To It Flows Into Shasta Lake And The Sacramento River.
- Lower Horse Creek Canyon
- Begins 2.5 Miles West Of Little Valley, California To Juncture With The Pit River.
- Upper Pit River Canyon
- Begins Near Muck Valley To Ends Two Miles From The Fall River Valley
Track Pit No. 3 Diversion 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 Pit No. 3 Diversion
Where does the data for Pit No. 3 Diversion 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 Pit No. 3 Diversion .