Giffen Reservoir dam
Giffen Reservoir
Giffen Reservoir, located in Centerville, California, is a private water supply reservoir primarily used for irrigation purposes. Completed in 1971, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 29 feet and has a storage capacity of 900 acre-feet. The reservoir covers a surface area of 87 acres and is fed by the Tr Holland Creek, with a drainage area of 1.1 square miles.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, Giffen Reservoir is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safe operation. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in September 2017 deemed it to be satisfactory. Regular inspections are conducted, with the most recent one taking place in April 2020, to ensure the dam's structural integrity and safety measures are up to standard.
With its key role in supplying water for both irrigation and general water needs in the area, Giffen Reservoir serves as a vital resource for Fresno County. Its strategic location and storage capacity make it a crucial asset for managing water resources in the region, highlighting the importance of maintaining its infrastructure and safety standards to safeguard against potential risks and ensure a reliable water supply for the 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 Giffen Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Joaquin R Bl Friant Ca | 520 cfs | → |
| Nf Willow C Nr Sugar Pine Ca | 416 cfs | → |
| Marble Fork Kaweah R Ab Horse C Nr Lodgepole Ca | 133 cfs | → |
| Big C Div Nr Fish Camp Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Joaquin R Nr Mendota Ca | 149 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Giffen Reservoir.
⚓ Boat launches
- North Piedra Road 3140, Sanger
- Sunnyslope Road 30796, Sanger
- San Joaquin River Trail, Friant
- Redinger Boating Site
- Sandy Cove Road Fresno County
- Hume Lake Boat Launch (East Dam)
⛺ Campgrounds
- Choinumni
- Choinumni Park (County)
- Pine Flat Rec Area
- Island Park Group Site
- Island Park - Pine Flat Lake
- Trimmer - Pine Flat Lake
🎣 Fishing spots
- Avocado Lake
- Kings River, Below Pine Flat Reservoir
- Pine Flat Lake
- Millerton Lake
- Dinkey Meadow Creek
- Shaver Lake
🛶 Paddle runs
- Blarney Meadows To South End Of Florence Lake
- Hot Springs Area To West End Of Blarney River
- Confluence With North Fork San Joaquin River To Hells Half Acre
- Wilderness Boundary (Boundary Extend 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of River) To Boundary Of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park
- Northwest Boundary Of Nf/Kings Canyon Np To Hot Springs Area
- Wilderness Boundary Just Below Tokopah Falls (Boundary Extend 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of River) To Confluence With The Middle Fork Kaweah River
Track Giffen Reservoir 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 Giffen Reservoir
Where does the data for Giffen Reservoir 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 Giffen Reservoir.