Big Creek Dam No. 4 dam
Big Creek Dam No. 4
Big Creek Dam No. 4, nestled in Fresno, California, stands as a testament to early 20th-century engineering excellence. Completed in 1913, this concrete arch dam reaches a height of 75 feet and spans 287 feet across Big Creek. With a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet and a drainage area of 107.1 square miles, the dam primarily serves a hydroelectric purpose, harnessing the power of water to generate energy for the region.
Managed by a private entity, the dam is regulated by both state and federal agencies, ensuring its safety and compliance with rigorous inspection standards. Despite its low hazard potential, the risk assessment for Big Creek Dam No. 4 indicates a very high level of risk, highlighting the critical importance of ongoing monitoring and risk management measures. With a controlled spillway and a maximum discharge capacity of 11,000 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience in the area.
As an iconic feature of the landscape, Big Creek Dam No. 4 not only provides essential hydroelectric power but also serves as a symbol of human innovation and stewardship of natural resources. Its historical significance, combined with its continued operational effectiveness, underscores the vital role of dams in balancing water supply needs, renewable energy production, and environmental sustainability. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this dam stands as a beacon of progress and a reminder of the delicate balance between human development and environmental protection.
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 Big Creek Dam No. 4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nf Willow C Nr Sugar Pine Ca | 416 cfs | → |
| Big C Div Nr Fish Camp Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Joaquin R Bl Friant Ca | 387 cfs | → |
| Mf San Joaquin R Nr Mammoth Lakes Ca | 278 cfs | → |
| Hot C A Flume Nr Mammoth Lakes Ca | 64 cfs | → |
| Merced R A Happy Isles Bridge Nr Yosemite Ca | 725 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Creek Dam No. 4 .
Boat launches
- Huntington Boat Ramp & Launching Site
- Mammoth Pool Rd, California
- Redinger Boating Site
- Florence Lake Boating Site
- Florence Lake Campground
- Lake Edison Boating Site
Campgrounds
- Billy Creek - Lower
- Billy Creek, Lower Campground
- Billy Creek, Upper Campground
- Billy Creek - Upper
- Camp Kern Bsa
- Camp Oljato
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Confluence With North Fork San Joaquin River To Hells Half Acre
- Blarney Meadows To South End Of Florence Lake
- Hot Springs Area To West End Of Blarney River
- Northwest Boundary Of Nf/Kings Canyon Np To Hot Springs Area
- Rainbow Falls To Confluence With North Fork San Joaquin River
- Cora Creek To Confluence With San Joaquin River
Track Big Creek Dam No. 4 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 Big Creek Dam No. 4
Where does the data for Big Creek Dam No. 4 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 Big Creek Dam No. 4 .