Rains Creek dam
Rains Creek
Located in Lassen, California, Rains Creek is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1960 with a primary purpose of water supply for irrigation and other uses. Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, this dam stands at a height of 15 feet and has a storage capacity of 126 acre-feet. With a drainage area of 17.1 square miles and a surface area of 40 acres, Rains Creek plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and supply in the region.
The dam has a significant hazard potential but is currently deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in September 2017. Regular inspections are conducted, with the most recent one carried out in June 2020. While the dam does not have a spillway, its hydraulic height of 10 feet ensures effective water management. With its strategic location on Fraser Creek, Rains Creek is a vital component of the water infrastructure in the area, offering a reliable source of water for agricultural and other purposes.
In the realm of water resource and climate management, Rains Creek serves as a crucial asset in ensuring water supply sustainability in California. With its regulated state jurisdiction, the dam provides valuable insights into dam safety and enforcement practices. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the role of structures like Rains Creek becomes increasingly vital in mitigating risks and ensuring a reliable water supply for the region's needs.
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 Rains Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pit R Bl Pit No 1 Ph Nr Fall River Mills Ca | 1,310 cfs | → |
| Burney C A Burney Falls Nr Burney Ca | 168 cfs | → |
| Pit R Nr Canby Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Hat C Nr Hat Creek Ca | 179 cfs | → |
| Sf Pit R Nr Likely Ca | 139 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rains Creek.
Campgrounds
- Inter-Mountain Fair Of Shasta County
- Pit River
- Dusty Camp
- Dusty Campground
- Pit River/Cassel
- Mcarthur - Burney Falls State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Upper Pit River Canyon
- Begins Near Muck Valley To Ends Two Miles From The Fall River Valley
- Begins Immediately Southwest Of Fall River Mills, Ca To It Flows Into Shasta Lake And The Sacramento River.
- Lower Pit River Canyon
- Lower Horse Creek Canyon
- Begins 2.5 Miles West Of Little Valley, California To Juncture With The Pit River.
More reservoirs
Track Rains Creek 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 Rains Creek
Where does the data for Rains Creek 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 Significant 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 Rains Creek.