Parish Camp Saddle dam
Parish Camp Saddle
Parish Camp Saddle, located in Biggs, California, is a state-regulated dam on Dry Creek/Cherokee Canal with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Built in 1968, this earth dam stands at a height of 27 feet and has a structural height of 36 feet, providing a storage capacity of 3,540,000 acre-feet across its 260-foot length. With a hazard potential classified as high, the dam is inspected annually by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to ensure its safety and integrity.
The dam serves multiple purposes including hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, recreation, and water supply, contributing significantly to the local water resource management and climate resilience efforts. Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Parish Camp Saddle is a crucial component of the region's infrastructure, protecting downstream areas from flooding while also supporting various water-related activities. Despite its high hazard potential, regular inspections and enforcement measures by DWR and FERC ensure the dam's continued safe operation for the surrounding communities.
With its strategic location and key role in flood risk reduction and water supply management, Parish Camp Saddle stands as a vital infrastructure in Butte County, California. As climate change impacts continue to pose challenges to water resources, the dam's multi-purpose functions will be essential in adapting to changing conditions and ensuring sustainable use of water for both human and environmental needs. As stakeholders work together to address evolving risks and opportunities, Parish Camp Saddle remains a cornerstone in the region's efforts towards water security and climate resilience.
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 Parish Camp Saddle -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Butte C Nr Chico Ca | 295 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Vina Ca | 232 cfs | → |
| Yuba R Nr Marysville Ca | 1,500 cfs | → |
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 549 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Smartville Ca | 40 cfs | → |
| Mill C Nr Los Molinos Ca | 272 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Parish Camp Saddle .
Boat launches
- Potters Ravine, Oroville
- Bidwell Canyon Trail, Oroville
- Butte County
- Loafer Creek Road, Oroville
- River Bluff Drive 39, Oroville
Campgrounds
- Limesaddle - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
- Bidwell Canyon - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
- Loafer Creek - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
- Rogers Cow Camp (Family )
- Rogers Cow Camp
- Feather Falls
Fishing spots
- Oroville Lake
- Thermalito Afterbay
- Bucks Lake
- Merle Collins Reservoir
- Bullards Bar Reservoir
- Englebright Lake
Paddle runs
- Highway 70 Crossing To Lake Oroville
- Poe Dam To Highway 70 Crossing
- Cresta Dam To Poe Reservoir (Camp Creek)
- Bear Gulch To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr
- Nelsons Crossing To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr
- Butte Creek
More reservoirs
Track Parish Camp Saddle 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 Parish Camp Saddle
Where does the data for Parish Camp Saddle 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 Parish Camp Saddle .