Keswick dam
Keswick
Keswick Dam, located in Redding, California, along the Sacramento River, is a federal structure managed by the Bureau of Reclamation. Built in 1949, this concrete gravity dam stands at a height of 157 feet and serves multiple purposes, including flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, and irrigation. With a storage capacity of 25,132 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 250,000 cubic feet per second, Keswick Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
The dam's hazard potential is classified as high, with a very high risk assessment rating of 1. While the condition assessment is not currently available, regular inspections are conducted to ensure the structure's safety. Keswick Dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 200 feet and is designed to withstand hydraulic pressures up to 121 feet. Despite its age, Keswick Dam continues to play a vital role in water management and flood protection in the area, supported by the expertise and oversight of the Bureau of Reclamation.
As a key component of the Sacramento River system, Keswick Dam's significance extends beyond its primary purpose of flood risk reduction. The dam's location, design, and operational capacity make it a critical infrastructure for water resource management, environmental conservation, and energy production in the region. With ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts by the Bureau of Reclamation, Keswick Dam remains a reliable asset for ensuring water security and climate resilience in Shasta County, 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 Keswick -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento R A Keswick Ca | 8,810 cfs | → |
| Anderson-Cottonwood Id Cn At Sharon St Redding Ca | 255 cfs | → |
| Clear C Nr Igo Ca | 217 cfs | → |
| Cow C Nr Millville Ca | 231 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood C Nr Cottonwood Ca | 292 cfs | → |
| Trinity R A Lewiston Ca | 1,050 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Keswick.
Boat launches
- Keswick Boat Ramp
- Lake Redding Boat Ramp
- Auditorium Drive Redding
- Park Marina Drive 2515, Redding
- Park Marina Drive 2525, Redding
- South Bonnyview Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Horse Camp Primitive Campground
- Peltier Campground
- Peltier Bridge Primitive Campground
- Brandy Creek Campground
- Brandy Creek Rv
- Shasta Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Keswick 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 Keswick
Where does the data for Keswick 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 Keswick.