Box Canyon dam
Box Canyon
Box Canyon, located in Siskiyou County, California, is a concrete gravity dam completed in 1970 for flood risk reduction along the Sacramento River. With a height of 220 feet and a length of 1,100 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 26,000 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 430 acres. Managed by the local government, Box Canyon serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, and recreation.
The dam is regulated by both state and federal agencies, with inspections conducted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Its hazard potential is categorized as high, and a risk assessment has deemed it to have a moderate risk level. Despite its age, the condition assessment of Box Canyon is currently listed as "Not Available," with the last inspection date recorded in September 2020. Emergency action plans are in place, meeting guidelines and last reviewed in December 2020.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Box Canyon offers a fascinating example of infrastructure designed to mitigate flood risks while providing additional benefits such as renewable energy generation and recreational opportunities. As part of the Sacramento River system, this dam plays a crucial role in water management and protection in the region. Ongoing monitoring and maintenance ensure the safety and functionality of Box Canyon, highlighting the intersection of engineering, environmental stewardship, and public safety in managing water resources in California.
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 Box Canyon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Trinity R Ab Coffee C Nr Trinity Ctr Ca | 117 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R A Delta Ca | 461 cfs | → |
| Shasta R Nr Montague Ca | 63 cfs | → |
| Burney C A Burney Falls Nr Burney Ca | 168 cfs | → |
| Shasta R Nr Yreka Ca | 59 cfs | → |
| Scott R Nr Fort Jones Ca | 167 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Box Canyon .
Boat launches
- Lake Siskiyou Trail - Delta Segment Siskiyou County
- Castle Lake Trail #4w02 Siskiyou County
- Shasta County
- Siskiyou County
- National Forest Development Road 41n08 Siskiyou County
- Mountain Wood Drive 15182, Siskiyou County
Campgrounds
- Castle Lake
- Castle Lake Campground
- Mcbride Springs Campground
- Mcbride Springs
- Red Fir Flat Group Campground
- Bunny Flat Trailhead Camping
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters In Russian Wilderness To Wilderness Boundary
- Wilderness Boundary To Forest Road 40n54
- Scott District Boundary To Confluence With Sixmile Creek
- Shasta River
- Confluence Of Tributaries In Sec 6 Near Black Mtn. To Confluence With Blind Horse Creek
- Confluence With Sixmile Creek To Confluence With South Fork Salmon River
More reservoirs
Track Box Canyon 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 Box Canyon
Where does the data for Box Canyon 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 Box Canyon .