Culbertson Lake dam
Culbertson Lake
Culbertson Lake, located in Nevada County, California, is a privately owned earth dam with a primary purpose of hydroelectric generation. Completed in 1852, this historic structure stands at a height of 20 feet and has a storage capacity of 953 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 950 acre-feet. The dam spans 255 feet in length and covers a surface area of 70 acres, with a drainage area of 0.4 square miles.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Culbertson Lake boasts a low hazard potential and is classified as having a moderate risk level. The dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway that is 23 feet wide and has a maximum discharge capacity of 165 cubic feet per second. Although the condition assessment is currently not available, the dam has been inspected by state and federal agencies, with the last inspection conducted in August 2017. While the risk management measures and emergency action plan details are not specified, the dam meets regulatory guidelines and is considered to be in compliance with safety standards.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Culbertson Lake offers a glimpse into the historical development of hydroelectric infrastructure in California. With its unique design and operational features, this earth dam serves as a valuable resource for studying water management practices and the impact of dams on local ecosystems. As a regulated structure with state jurisdiction and oversight, Culbertson Lake represents a blend of traditional engineering principles and modern safety protocols, ensuring the continued sustainability of water resources in the region.
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 Culbertson Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Truckee R Bl Div Dam Nr Sierraville Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Independence C Nr Truckee Ca | 16 cfs | → |
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 402 cfs | → |
| Sagehen C Nr Truckee Ca | 8 cfs | → |
| Donner C A Donner Lk Nr Truckee Ca | 10 cfs | → |
| Donner C At Hwy 89 Nr Truckee Ca | 51 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Culbertson Lake .
Boat launches
- Meadow Lake Road Nevada County
- Fuller Lake Boating Site
- Woodcamp Access Road Nevada County
- Lake Spaulding Road 10260, Nevada City
- Henness Pass Road, Sierraville
- Sardine Lake Road 990, Sierra City
Campgrounds
- Lindsey Lake
- Lindsey Lake Campground
- Island Lake Camping Area #3
- Carr Lake
- Island Lake Camping Area #1
- Carr Lake Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Langs Crossing Bridge To One-Half Mile West Of Confluence With Fall Creek (Boundary Of Nf And Private Land)
- One-Half Mile West Of Confluence With Fall Creek To Confluence With Jefferson Creek
- Generation And Giant Gaps (Tadpole To Colfax-Iowa Hill Road)
- Royal Gorge (Soda Springs To Tadpole Creek)
- Gold Lake Dam To Falls
- Headwaters Of East Fork Canyon Creek (Sec 13, T21n, R10e) To Confluence With South Fork Canyon Creek
Track Culbertson Lake 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 Culbertson Lake
Where does the data for Culbertson Lake 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 Low 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 Culbertson Lake .