Grizzly Creek dam
Grizzly Creek
Grizzly Creek, also known as Grizzly Ice Pond, is a privately owned dam located in Portola, California. Built in 1915, this gravity dam stands at a height of 39 feet and serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, irrigation, recreation, and water supply. With a storage capacity of 140 acre-feet, Grizzly Creek plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area.
The dam is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and is subject to regular inspections to ensure its safety and structural integrity. With a high hazard potential, Grizzly Creek has been deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in September 2017. The dam is situated on Big Grizzly Creek and has a drainage area of 50.5 square miles, making it a key infrastructure for flood risk reduction in the region.
Despite its age, Grizzly Creek continues to play a vital role in water management and protection in Plumas County. With its strategic location and ability to store water for various purposes, this dam serves as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Grizzly Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Truckee R Bl Div Dam Nr Sierraville Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Independence C Nr Truckee Ca | 21 cfs | → |
| Spanish C A Quincy Ca | 47 cfs | → |
| Sagehen C Nr Truckee Ca | 10 cfs | → |
| Spanish C Ab Blackhawk C At Keddie Ca | 90 cfs | → |
| Dog Creek At Verdi | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Grizzly Creek.
Boat launches
- Salmon Lake -Boat Ramp Boating Site
- Salmon Lake Road 1500, Sierra City
- Sardine Lake Road 990, Sierra City
- Henness Pass Road, Sierraville
- Woodcamp Access Road Nevada County
- Lost Cove Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Crocker .
- Crocker Campground
- Crocker Guard Station
- Lake Davis Dump Station
- Grizzly Campground
- Grasshopper Flat .
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Gold Lake Highway To Nf Boundary
- Falls To Gold Lake Highway
- State Park To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr
- Gold Lake Dam To Falls
- Frenchman Reservoir To Nf Boundary
- Little Jamison Creek Headwaters To State Park
More reservoirs
Track Grizzly Creek 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 Grizzly Creek
Where does the data for Grizzly Creek 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 Grizzly Creek.