Morning Star dam
Morning Star
Morning Star, also known as Big Reservoir, is a privately owned dam located in Folsom, California. Built in 1870, this earth dam stands at a height of 44 feet and has a storage capacity of 1405.4 acre-feet, primarily used for water supply. The dam sits on North Forbes Creek and is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for safety and inspections.
Despite its age, Morning Star has been assessed as being in satisfactory condition with a low hazard potential. The dam has a spillway type and width not specified in the data, but it has undergone regular inspections, with the last one conducted in April 2020. The surrounding area offers recreational opportunities, and the dam serves multiple purposes including tailings management in addition to water supply.
Managed by a private entity, Morning Star plays a crucial role in water resource management in Placer County, California. Its historical significance and continued operation highlight the importance of maintaining and regulating dams for both water supply and recreational purposes 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 Morning Star -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot C Bl Mutton Canyon Nr Georgetown Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Ab Stumpy Meadows Res Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca | 773 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Smartville Ca | 59 cfs | → |
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 663 cfs | → |
| Donner C A Donner Lk Nr Truckee Ca | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Morning Star.
Boat launches
- Iowa Hill Road Placer County
- Oxbow Raft Put-In Site
- Lake Spaulding Road 10260, Nevada City
- Fuller Lake Boating Site
- Mosquito Ridge Rd, California
- Dry Lakes Trail El Dorado County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Tunnel Run (Ralston Powerhouse To Greenwood)
- Chamberlain Falls (Iowa Hill To Yankee Jim)
- Yankee Jim Road To Ponderosa Way (Shirttail)
- Generation And Giant Gaps (Tadpole To Colfax-Iowa Hill Road)
- Interbay To Oxbow (End Of The World)
- Langs Crossing Bridge To One-Half Mile West Of Confluence With Fall Creek (Boundary Of Nf And Private Land)
Track Morning Star 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 Morning Star
Where does the data for Morning Star 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 Morning Star.