A. L. Chaffin dam
A. L. Chaffin
A. L. Chaffin is a privately owned dam located in Butte, California, with a primary purpose of water supply for irrigation and other uses. Built in 1957, this earth dam stands at a height of 65 feet and has a storage capacity of 450 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Tr Cottonwood Cr, within the jurisdiction of the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for safety and regulatory oversight.
Despite its low hazard potential, A. L. Chaffin is subject to regular inspections, with the last assessment conducted in September 2017 and an inspection frequency of once per year. The condition of the dam is reported as satisfactory, providing assurance of its structural integrity. Additionally, the dam has not undergone any significant modifications in recent years, indicating a stable and well-maintained infrastructure for water resource management in the region.
Overall, A. L. Chaffin serves as a vital component of the water supply infrastructure in Butte County, California. With its satisfactory condition and adherence to regulatory standards, the dam continues to play a crucial role in supporting irrigation and water supply needs for the local community. As a key feature on Tr Cottonwood Cr, A. L. Chaffin exemplifies the importance of responsible dam ownership and maintenance in ensuring water resource sustainability and climate resilience.
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 A. L. Chaffin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Butte C Nr Chico Ca | 320 cfs | → |
| Yuba R Nr Marysville Ca | 1,740 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Smartville Ca | 55 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R A Colusa Ca | 6,600 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Vina Ca | 249 cfs | → |
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 631 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near A. L. Chaffin.
Boat launches
- Potters Ravine, Oroville
- River Bluff Drive 39, Oroville
- Bidwell Canyon Trail, Oroville
- Monument Hill Road, Oroville
- Loafer Creek Road, Oroville
- Butte County
Campgrounds
- Limesaddle - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
- Bidwell Canyon - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
- Loafer Creek - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
- Feather Falls
- Milsap Bar
- Milsap Bar Campground
Fishing spots
- Thermalito Afterbay
- Oroville Lake
- Merle Collins Reservoir
- Bullards Bar Reservoir
- Bucks Lake
- Englebright Lake
Track A. L. Chaffin 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 A. L. Chaffin
Where does the data for A. L. Chaffin 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 A. L. Chaffin.