Kinney Meadows dam
Kinney Meadows
Kinney Meadows, also known as Kinney Reservoir, is a privately owned water resource located in Markleeville, California. Built in 1929, this earth dam stands at a height of 44 feet, with a storage capacity of 900 acre-feet. The primary purpose of Kinney Meadows is to supply water for irrigation and general water supply needs in the area.
Situated on the Tr Silver Creek, Kinney Meadows covers a surface area of 33 acres and has a drainage area of 0.36 square miles. Despite its age, the dam is deemed to have a low hazard potential and is in a satisfactory condition according to a 2017 assessment. The dam is under state regulation, with inspection, enforcement, and permitting managed by the California Department of Water Resources.
Overall, Kinney Meadows serves as a vital component of water resource management in Alpine County, providing essential water supply for agricultural and domestic use. With its strategic location and historical significance, Kinney Meadows stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Kinney Meadows -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| E F Carson R Bl Markleeville C Nr Markleevilleca | 475 cfs | → |
| Leviathan C Ab Mine Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Leviathan Mine Adit Drain Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Leviathan C Channel Underdrain Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| 4l C Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Aspen C Abv Leviathan Mine Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kinney Meadows.
Boat launches
- Summit Lake Trail Alpine County
- Indian Creek Camp Ground Day Use Area
- Amador County
- Topaz Park Road Douglas County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Highway 4 To Salt Springs Reservoir
- Source Sec 24, T6n, R21e To Centerville Flat
- Centerville Flat To Hangman's Bridge
- Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Middle Fork Stanislaus
- Headwaters To Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters In Sec 2, T9n, R18e To Confluence With Mokelumne River
Track Kinney Meadows 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 Kinney Meadows
Where does the data for Kinney Meadows 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 Kinney Meadows.