Donovan dam
Donovan
Donovan, also known as Donovan Reservoir, is a private water supply reservoir located in Modoc County, California. The dam was completed in 1953 and stands at a height of 28 feet, with a maximum storage capacity of 1234 acre-feet. The reservoir serves the primary purpose of irrigation and water supply, benefiting the surrounding agricultural community in the Pit River area.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Donovan Reservoir is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources for safety and inspection. The dam has a significant hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition, as assessed in September 2017. With a drainage area of 35.2 square miles and a surface area of 207 acres, the reservoir plays a crucial role in water management in the region, supporting the needs of both human and environmental systems.
The location of Donovan Reservoir along Rye Grass Swale offers a vital source of water for the local ecosystem, while also serving as a key infrastructure for irrigation purposes. With its strategic position and historical significance dating back to the mid-20th century, Donovan Reservoir continues to play a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
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 Donovan -- 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 | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Donovan.
Boat launches
- Big Sage Road Modoc County
- Duncan South Boating Site
- Duncan North Boating Site
- Logan Slough Boating Site
Campgrounds
- Upper Rush Creek
- Big Sage
- Big Sage Campground
- Lower Rush Creek Campground
- Lower Rush Creek
- Reservoir F Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Sally's Camp To Confluence With Willow Creek
- Wilcox Spring To Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge Boundary
- Begins Near Muck Valley To Ends Two Miles From The Fall River Valley
- Upper Pit River Canyon
- Begins 2.5 Miles West Of Little Valley, California To Juncture With The Pit River.
- Lower Horse Creek Canyon
More reservoirs
Track Donovan 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 Donovan
Where does the data for Donovan 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 Donovan.