Grass Valley dam
Grass Valley
Grass Valley, also known as Grass Valley Lake, is a private water resource located in Blue Jay, California. Built in 1964 for flood risk reduction, this earth dam stands at a height of 35 feet and has a storage capacity of 243 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Grass Valley Creek in San Bernardino County, and its primary purpose includes flood risk reduction, irrigation, recreation, and water supply.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment, Grass Valley poses a high hazard potential, emphasizing the importance of regular inspections and maintenance. The dam has state jurisdiction, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement conducted by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program. With a drainage area of 2.6 square miles and a surface area of 20 acres, Grass Valley plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region.
As an integral part of the water infrastructure in the area, Grass Valley serves as a vital resource for the surrounding community and contributes to the overall water management efforts in California. With its strategic location and multiple purposes, including flood risk reduction and water supply, Grass Valley highlights the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing water demands.
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 Grass Valley -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deep C Nr Hesperia Ca | 14 cfs | → |
| Wf Mojave R Ab Mojave R Forks Res Nr Hesperia Ca | 9 cfs | → |
| Waterman Cyn C Nr Arrowhead Spgs Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| E Twin C Nr Arrowhead Springs Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Sand Canyon C Nr Highland Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Devil Cyn C Nr San Bernardino Ca | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Grass Valley.
⛺ Campgrounds
- Dogwood Campground
- Dogwood Family Campground
- Dogwood
- North Shore Family Campground
- North Shore Campground
- Camp Seely
🎣 Fishing spots
- Lake Gregory
- Lake Gregory County Regional Park
- Deep Creek
- Silverwood Lake
- Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area
- Green Valley Lake
Track Grass Valley 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 Grass Valley
Where does the data for Grass Valley 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 Grass Valley.