Lower Blackwelder dam
Lower Blackwelder
Lower Blackwelder, also known as Lower Blackwelder Lake, is a federal-owned dam situated in Yuba County, California, near the city of Beale AFB. Managed by the US Air Force, this dam primarily serves the purpose of flood risk reduction while also providing recreational opportunities. The dam is a rockfill type with a height of 10 feet and a length of 700 feet, offering a storage capacity of 160 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 20 acres.
Located on Hutchinson Creek, Lower Blackwelder has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. Despite its age and limited data on condition assessment, the dam is inspected every 5 years to ensure its structural integrity and overall safety. While the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, it meets regulatory guidelines and is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 35 feet to manage potential overflow. Overall, Lower Blackwelder plays a crucial role in flood risk management in the area, showcasing the importance of water resource infrastructure in mitigating climate-related risks.
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 Lower Blackwelder -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yuba R Nr Marysville Ca | 1,740 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Smartville Ca | 55 cfs | → |
| Bear R Nr Wheatland Ca | 248 cfs | → |
| Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca | 732 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R Bl Wilkins Slough Nr Grimes Ca | 4,960 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R A Verona Ca | 8,700 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Blackwelder.
Boat launches
- Second Street 209, Yuba City
- Garden Highway 5020, Yuba City
- Levee Road Yuba County
- Yuba County
- Pennington Road 1100, Live Oak
- Garmire Road 6736-6876, Meridian
Campgrounds
- Beale Afb Military
- Collins Lake Rv Park & Campground
- Live Oak Riverfront Park
- Nevada County Fairgrounds
- Bear River County Park
- Hornswoggle Group Campground
Fishing spots
- Camp Far West Reservoir
- Englebright Lake
- Merle Collins Reservoir
- Lake Of The Pines
- Lake Combie
- Pg&E Rock Creek Lake Fishing Access
Paddle runs
- Confluence With Jefferson Creek To Confluence With Kentucky Creek
- Chamberlain Falls (Iowa Hill To Yankee Jim)
- Yankee Jim Road To Ponderosa Way (Shirttail)
- Greenwood To Mammoth Bar
- One-Quarter Mile Upstream From Confluence With Slate Creek To Bullards Bar Reservoir Spillway (Elevation 1902 Feet)
- One-Eighth Mile Downstream From Confluence With Cherokee Creek To One-Quarter Mile Upstream From Confluence With Slate Creek
Track Lower Blackwelder 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 Lower Blackwelder
Where does the data for Lower Blackwelder 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 Lower Blackwelder.