Camp Far West dam
Camp Far West
Camp Far West is a public utility water resource located in Sheridan, California, along the Bear River. Completed in 1963, this earth dam stands at a height of 185 feet and has a storage capacity of 137,280 acre-feet for irrigation purposes. The dam also serves for hydroelectric power generation and recreational activities, covering a surface area of 2020 acres within its 6040 feet length.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Camp Far West is regulated and inspected to ensure safety and compliance with state jurisdiction. With a high hazard potential due to its size and location, the dam's risk assessment is moderate, prompting the development of emergency action plans and regular inspections. Despite its hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently not available, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and management to safeguard water resources and the surrounding community.
Camp Far West's role in water resource management underscores the intersection of infrastructure, climate resilience, and environmental conservation. As a vital component of California's water infrastructure, this dam serves as a critical lifeline for irrigation, hydroelectricity, and recreation, showcasing the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns. With its strategic location, regulatory oversight, and risk management measures, Camp Far West stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to balance water resource utilization with environmental stewardship and community safety in the region.
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 Camp Far West -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear R Nr Wheatland Ca | 45 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Smartville Ca | 26 cfs | → |
| Yuba R Nr Marysville Ca | 1,320 cfs | → |
| Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca | 346 cfs | → |
| Dry C A Vernon St Bridge A Roseville Ca | 159 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R A Verona Ca | 14,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Camp Far West .
Boat launches
- Levee Road Yuba County
- Garden Highway 5020, Yuba City
- Second Street 209, Yuba City
- Yuba County
- Rattlesnake Road Placer County
- Oak Hill Road 7935, Pilot Hill
Campgrounds
- Beale Afb Military
- Nevada County Fairgrounds
- Bear River County Park
- Collins Lake Rv Park & Campground
- Placer County Fair Rv
- Mineral Bar - Auburn State Rec Area
Fishing spots
- Camp Far West Reservoir
- Lake Of The Pines
- Englebright Lake
- Pg&E Rock Creek Lake Fishing Access
- Lake Combie
- Lake Clementine
Track Camp Far West 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 Camp Far West
Where does the data for Camp Far West 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 Camp Far West .