Rush Meadows dam
Rush Meadows
Rush Meadows, also known as Waugh Lake, is a private hydroelectric facility located in Mono County, California. This concrete dam was completed in 1925 and spans 463 feet in length, with a structural height of 50 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 5280 acre-feet and serves multiple purposes, including hydroelectric power generation and recreation.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Rush Meadows dam has a high hazard potential and is subject to regular state inspections and enforcement. The dam controls Rush Creek and has a maximum discharge capacity of 900 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, the dam remains in moderate risk condition, with an emergency action plan in place since December 2020 to address any potential safety concerns.
Surrounded by stunning natural landscapes, Rush Meadows offers a unique blend of water resource management and outdoor recreational activities. Its historical significance and ongoing regulatory oversight make it an intriguing destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts looking to explore the intersection of human infrastructure and environmental sustainability in the beautiful June Lake area of California.
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 Rush Meadows -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mf San Joaquin R Nr Mammoth Lakes Ca | 557 cfs | → |
| Deadman C A Big Springs Nr Crestview Ca | 33 cfs | → |
| Merced R A Happy Isles Bridge Nr Yosemite Ca | 1,750 cfs | → |
| Hot C A Flume Nr Mammoth Lakes Ca | 58 cfs | → |
| Merced R A Pohono Bridge Nr Yosemite Ca | 2,070 cfs | → |
| Tuolumne R A Grand Cyn Of Tuolumne Ab Hetch Hetchy | 2,650 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rush Meadows .
⚓ Boat launches
- Gull Meadows Car Top Boat Launch
- Navy Beach Paddle Boat Launch
- Lake Edison Boating Site
- Mammoth Pool Rd, California
⛺ Campgrounds
- Silver Lake - June Lake
- Lyell Fork
- Aerie Crag Picnic Area
- Aerie Crag Rv Camp
- Reversed Creek Campground
- Gull Lake Campground
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- Headwaters At Thousand Island Lake To Agnew Meadows
- Headwaters To Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters In Sec 8, T3s, R25 E To Hemlock Crossing
- Headwaters To Walker Lake
- National Monument Boundary To Soda Springs Footbridge In Devils Postpile National Monument
- Agnew Meadows To Soda Springs Footbridge
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Rush Meadows 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 Rush Meadows
Where does the data for Rush Meadows 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 Rush Meadows .