Empire Weir No. 1 dam
Empire Weir No. 1
Empire Weir No. 1, located in Kings County, California, along the South Fork Kings River, was completed in 1906 with the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. This buttress dam stands at a height of 18 feet and has a hydraulic height of 15.5 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 50 acre-feet. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam is regularly inspected by state agencies to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Managed by a public utility, Empire Weir No. 1 plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flood events while also supporting irrigation activities in the region. With a satisfactory condition assessment as of September 2017, this historical dam continues to serve its intended purposes effectively. However, the lack of specific spillway information and the absence of associated structures raise questions about its full operational capabilities and emergency preparedness measures.
As part of the Sacramento District, Empire Weir No. 1 falls under state regulation by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) for dam safety. With Congressman TJ Cox overseeing the area, the dam's location in the city of Stratford underscores its importance in managing water resources and mitigating climate-related risks. Enthusiasts in water resource management and climate adaptation can appreciate the historical significance and ongoing monitoring efforts of Empire Weir No. 1 in safeguarding the local community and ecosystem.
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 Empire Weir No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cantua C Nr Cantua Creek Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Los Gatos C Ab Nunez Cyn Nr Coalinga Ca | · | → |
| San Joaquin R Nr Mendota Ca | 149 cfs | → |
| Clear C Nr Idria Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Panoche C A I-5 Nr Silver Creek Ca | · | → |
| San Joaquin R Bl Friant Ca | 452 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Empire Weir No. 1.
Track Empire Weir No. 1 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 Empire Weir No. 1
Where does the data for Empire Weir No. 1 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 Empire Weir No. 1.