Shasta dam
Shasta
Shasta Dam, located in Redding, California, is a key water resource infrastructure managed by the Bureau of Reclamation for its primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation. Completed in 1945, this concrete gravity dam stands at a towering 602 feet high and spans 3460 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of over 4.6 million acre-feet. The dam's hydroelectric operations also support irrigation, navigation, recreation, and water supply in the region.
The Sacramento River is impounded by Shasta Dam, providing critical water management and flood control benefits to the surrounding area. With a spillway width of 375 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 250,000 cubic feet per second, the dam is equipped to handle high hazard potential and extreme flood events. Despite its age, Shasta Dam's condition assessment is not available, but regular inspections and risk management measures are in place to ensure the safety and integrity of this vital water infrastructure.
Shasta Dam's strategic location and impressive engineering make it a significant landmark in California's water resource management system. As climate change impacts water availability and variability, the efficient operation and maintenance of dams like Shasta become increasingly important for sustainable water supply and ecosystem health in the region. This iconic structure continues to play a crucial role in shaping the water landscape of the state and serving as a model for integrated water resource management practices.
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 Shasta -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento R A Keswick Ca | 8,970 cfs | → |
| Anderson-Cottonwood Id Cn At Sharon St Redding Ca | 261 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R A Delta Ca | 597 cfs | → |
| Clear C Nr Igo Ca | 217 cfs | → |
| Cow C Nr Millville Ca | 234 cfs | → |
| Trinity R A Lewiston Ca | 1,090 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shasta.
Track Shasta 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 Shasta
Where does the data for Shasta 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 Shasta.