Scotts Flat Spillway dam
Scotts Flat Spillway
Scotts Flat Spillway in Nevada City, California, is a concrete gravity dam primarily used for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. Managed by a public utility, the dam stands at a height of 55 feet and has a storage capacity of 49,000 acre-feet. The spillway, categorized as uncontrolled, has a maximum discharge of 28,000 cubic feet per second and is located on Deer Creek.
The dam is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program and is subject to regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. With a high hazard potential, the spillway poses risks that are mitigated through emergency action plans and risk assessment measures. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission oversees the dam's operations, inspections, and regulatory compliance to ensure safety and efficiency in its functioning.
Scotts Flat Spillway serves as a critical water resource infrastructure in the region, providing essential services for fire protection, irrigation, and hydroelectric power generation. With its strategic location and significant storage capacity, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and ensuring water supply reliability for the surrounding communities. As a key component of the local water management system, the spillway contributes to the overall resilience of the region in the face of changing climate conditions and water resource challenges.
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 Scotts Flat Spillway -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 663 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Smartville Ca | 59 cfs | → |
| Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca | 773 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Bl Mutton Canyon Nr Georgetown Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Bear R Nr Wheatland Ca | 328 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Ab Stumpy Meadows Res Ca | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Scotts Flat Spillway.
Boat launches
- Iowa Hill Road Placer County
- Fuller Lake Boating Site
- Lake Spaulding Road 10260, Nevada City
- Smokey Lane 44-50, Alleghany
- Oxbow Raft Put-In Site
- Yuba County
Campgrounds
- Rock Creek Mill Site
- South Yuba Primitive Camp
- South Yuba
- White Cloud
- White Cloud Campground
- Environmental Camp
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- One-Half Mile West Of Confluence With Fall Creek To Confluence With Jefferson Creek
- Chamberlain Falls (Iowa Hill To Yankee Jim)
- Langs Crossing Bridge To One-Half Mile West Of Confluence With Fall Creek (Boundary Of Nf And Private Land)
- Confluence With Jefferson Creek To Confluence With Kentucky Creek
- Yankee Jim Road To Ponderosa Way (Shirttail)
- Headwaters Of North Yuba River (Sec 10, T20n, R13 E) To One-Eighth Mile Downstream Of Confluence With Cherokee Creek
Track Scotts Flat Spillway 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 Scotts Flat Spillway
Where does the data for Scotts Flat Spillway 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 Scotts Flat Spillway.