Kern River No. 1 Forebay dam
Kern River No. 1 Forebay
Kern River No. 1 Forebay is a private concrete gravity dam located in Kern County, California. Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, this dam stands at a height of 10 feet and has a storage capacity of 1 acre-foot. While the specific year of completion is not provided, the dam has been inspected as recently as September 2020, with a significant hazard potential noted.
This structure plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region, although details about its primary purpose and associated structures are not specified. With its location in the Sacramento District and under federal oversight, Kern River No. 1 Forebay serves as a key component of the local water infrastructure. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in December 2020, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and risk management in case of any unforeseen events.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the intricate details of dam infrastructure will find Kern River No. 1 Forebay to be a fascinating subject of study. Despite the lack of certain information such as the year of completion and specific purposes, the dam's significant hazard potential and federal oversight add layers of complexity to its role in water storage and management. As a vital part of the region's water infrastructure, this concrete gravity dam serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring such structures for the safety and security of surrounding communities.
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 Kern River No. 1 Forebay -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deer C Nr Fountain Springs Ca | 16 cfs | → |
| Sf Kern R Nr Onyx Ca | 100 cfs | → |
| Sf Tule R Nr Reservation Bndry Nr Porterville Ca | 27 cfs | → |
| Sf Tule R Nr Cholollo Campground Nr Porterville Ca | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kern River No. 1 Forebay.
Boat launches
- Lake Ming Road 13375, Bakersfield
- Democrat Raft Take-Out Boating Site
- Delonegha River Access Boating Site
- Kern Canyon Road Bodfish
- Miracle Hot Springs Picnic Site
- Sandy Flat Put-In/Take-Out Boating Site
Campgrounds
- Kern River Camp Ground. Bakersfield
- Oak Flat Lookout/Cabin
- Camp Okihi. Bakersfield
- Kern River Park
- Breckenridge
- Breckenridge Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- 20.2 Miles Downstream Of Isabella Dam To Western Nf Boundary
- 7 Miles From Isabella Dam To 20.2 Miles From Isabella Dam
- Sandy Flat Camp To Democrat Picnic Area
- Isabella Lake Dam To 7 Miles Downstream
- Southern Boundary Of Wsr To Nf Boundary
- Camp Wishon To Confluence With Middle Fork Tule River
Track Kern River No. 1 Forebay 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 Kern River No. 1 Forebay
Where does the data for Kern River No. 1 Forebay 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 Kern River No. 1 Forebay.