Scott dam
Scott
Scott Lake, also known as Lake Pillsbury, is a privately owned hydroelectric reservoir located in Dos Rios, California. Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, this concrete gravity dam stands at 138 feet tall and was completed in 1921. With a storage capacity of 80,600 acre-feet and a surface area of 2,280 acres, Scott Lake serves as a critical water resource in the region, drawing from the Eel River with a maximum discharge of 135,000 cubic feet per second.
The dam's spillway is controlled and 402 feet wide, while the outlet gates include slide and tainter gates. Despite its high hazard potential, Scott Lake has not undergone a recent condition assessment. Emergency action plans are in place, but the risk assessment remains very high. The dam's location within a high-risk area emphasizes the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and the safety of downstream communities. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Scott Lake a fascinating case study of a historic dam with significant implications for water management and safety regulations.
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 Scott -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ef Russian R Nr Calpella Ca | 42 cfs | → |
| Ef Russian R Nr Ukiah Ca | 156 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Ukiah Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Outlet C Nr Willits Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Talmage Ca | 92 cfs | → |
| Willits C Ab Lk Emily Nr Willits Ca | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Scott .
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Lake Pillsbury Resort
- Fuller Grove - Lake Pillsbury
- Fuller Grove Group Campground
- Fuller Grove Campground
- Sunset Point - Lake Pillsbury
- Navy Camp - Lake Pillsbury
Fishing spots
- Lake Pillsbury
- Lake Mendocino
- Cameron's Fishing Hole Catch & Release
- East Park Reservoir
- Clear Lake (Lake Cty)
- Black Butte Lake
Paddle runs
- Elk Creek
- Deep Hole Creek
- Headwaters In Sec 28, T18n, R8w To One-Third Mile Beyond Snow Mt. Wilderness Boundary At Private Property Boundary Near Paradise Creek
- Fish Creek
- Fish Creek Trib
- Edan Creek Trib
More reservoirs
Track Scott 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 Scott
Where does the data for Scott 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 Scott .