Toreson dam
Toreson
Toreson, also known as Ballard Reservoir, is a privately owned earth dam located in Canby, California. Built in 1898, this dam serves primarily for water supply purposes, with a maximum storage capacity of 1140 acre-feet. Situated on Toms Creek, Toreson has a hydraulic height of 50 feet and a dam height of 55 feet, making it a significant structure in the region.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and Safety of Dams agency, Toreson is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced to ensure its safety and compliance with state standards. Despite its age, the dam is in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in September 2017, with a significant hazard potential due to its size and location. The reservoir covers a surface area of 92 acres and has a drainage area of 17.8 square miles, providing water for irrigation and domestic use in the surrounding area.
With its historical significance and vital role in providing water resources, Toreson stands as a testament to the importance of proper dam management and maintenance. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, ensuring the safety and efficiency of structures like Toreson becomes increasingly crucial for sustainable water management in California's evolving landscape.
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 Toreson -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pit R Nr Canby Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Sf Pit R Nr Likely Ca | 119 cfs | → |
| Pit R Bl Pit No 1 Ph Nr Fall River Mills Ca | 1,270 cfs | → |
| Burney C A Burney Falls Nr Burney Ca | 168 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Toreson.
Boat launches
- Duncan South Boating Site
- Duncan North Boating Site
- Big Sage Road Modoc County
- Logan Slough Boating Site
Campgrounds
- Upper Rush Creek
- Lower Rush Creek Campground
- Lower Rush Creek
- Howards Gulch
- Howard's Gulch Campground
- Cottonwood Flat
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Sally's Camp To Confluence With Willow Creek
- Begins Near Muck Valley To Ends Two Miles From The Fall River Valley
- Upper Pit River Canyon
- Wilcox Spring To Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge Boundary
- Begins 2.5 Miles West Of Little Valley, California To Juncture With The Pit River.
- Lower Horse Creek Canyon
Track Toreson 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 Toreson
Where does the data for Toreson 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 Significant 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 Toreson.