Blackwelder dam
Blackwelder
Blackwelder, also known as Upper Blackwelder Lake, is a federally owned dam located in Yuba County, California. Built in 1955 by the USAF, this rockfill dam stands at a height of 19 feet and serves primarily for flood risk reduction. With a storage capacity of 330 acre-feet and a surface area of 35 acres, Blackwelder plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area.
Situated on Hutchinson Creek, Blackwelder has a significant hazard potential and is classified as having a moderate risk level. Despite its age, the dam has not undergone a recent condition assessment and lacks an emergency action plan. With no outlet gates and an uncontrolled spillway, the dam poses challenges for emergency response and water release during high flow events. However, the dam's inspection frequency of every 5 years helps to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
While primarily designed for flood risk reduction, Blackwelder also offers recreational opportunities for visitors. As part of the US Air Force infrastructure, the dam is a key component of the region's water management system. Its location at Beale AFB makes it a notable landmark in the area, attracting both water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in its engineering and environmental impact.
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 Blackwelder -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deer C Nr Smartville Ca | 59 cfs | → |
| Yuba R Nr Marysville Ca | 1,850 cfs | → |
| Bear R Nr Wheatland Ca | 328 cfs | → |
| Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca | 773 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R Bl Wilkins Slough Nr Grimes Ca | 5,290 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R A Verona Ca | 9,790 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blackwelder.
Boat launches
- Second Street 209, Yuba City
- Yuba County
- Garden Highway 5020, Yuba City
- Levee Road Yuba County
- Pennington Road 1100, Live Oak
- Butte County
Campgrounds
- Beale Afb Military
- Collins Lake Rv Park & Campground
- Live Oak Riverfront Park
- Nevada County Fairgrounds
- Bear River County Park
- Hornswoggle Group Campground
Fishing spots
- Englebright Lake
- Camp Far West Reservoir
- Merle Collins Reservoir
- Lake Of The Pines
- Lake Combie
- Pg&E Rock Creek Lake Fishing Access
Paddle runs
- Confluence With Jefferson Creek To Confluence With Kentucky Creek
- Chamberlain Falls (Iowa Hill To Yankee Jim)
- Yankee Jim Road To Ponderosa Way (Shirttail)
- Greenwood To Mammoth Bar
- One-Quarter Mile Upstream From Confluence With Slate Creek To Bullards Bar Reservoir Spillway (Elevation 1902 Feet)
- One-Eighth Mile Downstream From Confluence With Cherokee Creek To One-Quarter Mile Upstream From Confluence With Slate Creek
Track Blackwelder 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 Blackwelder
Where does the data for Blackwelder 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 Blackwelder.