Iron Canyon dam
Iron Canyon
Iron Canyon is a privately owned hydroelectric dam located in Shasta County, California. Completed in 1965, this earth dam stands at a height of 214 feet and has a hydraulic height of 204 feet, providing a storage capacity of 24,241 acre-feet for the surrounding area. The dam is situated on Iron Canyon Creek, with a drainage area of 11 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 10,500 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Iron Canyon Dam is subject to state regulation and inspection to ensure its safety and compliance with operational standards. With a high hazard potential due to its size and location, the dam has a moderate risk assessment rating. Although the condition assessment is not available, regular inspections are conducted to monitor the dam's structural integrity and emergency preparedness. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, and its emergency action plan was last revised in December 2019.
Iron Canyon Dam plays a crucial role in generating hydroelectric power for the region, contributing to renewable energy production and water resource management. With its strategic location in Redding and the surrounding area, the dam serves as a vital infrastructure for both energy and water supply needs. Its presence underscores the importance of sustainable and resilient water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions and increasing demands for clean energy.
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 Iron Canyon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Burney C A Burney Falls Nr Burney Ca | 168 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R A Delta Ca | 556 cfs | → |
| Pit R Bl Pit No 1 Ph Nr Fall River Mills Ca | 895 cfs | → |
| Trinity R Ab Coffee C Nr Trinity Ctr Ca | 149 cfs | → |
| Hat C Nr Hat Creek Ca | 177 cfs | → |
| Anderson-Cottonwood Id Cn At Sharon St Redding Ca | 257 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Iron Canyon .
Boat launches
- Shasta County
- Castle Lake Trail #4w02 Siskiyou County
- Lake Siskiyou Trail - Delta Segment Siskiyou County
- Site 8 (Group Site) Shasta County
- Digger Bay Road, Shasta Lake
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Iron Canyon 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 Iron Canyon
Where does the data for Iron Canyon 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 Iron Canyon .