Shasta River dam
Shasta River
Shasta River, located in Siskiyou, California, is a vital water source primarily used for irrigation and water supply purposes. The Shasta River dam, completed in 1928, stands at a height of 96 feet and has a storage capacity of 50,000 acre-feet. With a maximum discharge capacity and a surface area of 1850 acres, this Earth dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Managed by a public utility, the Shasta River dam is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and falls under the jurisdiction of the state. Despite its satisfactory condition assessment, the dam carries a high hazard potential due to its hydraulic height of 73 feet. Regular inspections ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations, with the last inspection conducted in March 2020.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Shasta River presents an interesting case study of water infrastructure in California. The dam's location in Big Springs, along with its historical significance and impact on the local ecosystem, make it a subject of ongoing research and management efforts. As climate change continues to influence water availability and quality, understanding and monitoring structures like the Shasta River dam are crucial for sustainable water resource management 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 Shasta River -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shasta R Nr Montague Ca | 63 cfs | → |
| Shasta R Nr Yreka Ca | 80 cfs | → |
| Klamath R Bl Iron Gate Dam Ca | 1,450 cfs | → |
| Scott R Nr Fort Jones Ca | 211 cfs | → |
| Trinity R Ab Coffee C Nr Trinity Ctr Ca | 209 cfs | → |
| Klamath River Blw John C.Boyle Pwrplnt | 1,380 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shasta River.
⚓ Boat launches
- Driftwood Lane Siskiyou County
- Mountain Wood Drive 15182, Siskiyou County
- Siskiyou County
- Lake Siskiyou Trail - Delta Segment Siskiyou County
- National Forest Development Road 41n08 Siskiyou County
- Castle Lake Trail #4w02 Siskiyou County
⛺ Campgrounds
- Deer Mountain Snowpark
- Mcbride Springs Campground
- Mcbride Springs
- Bunny Flat Trailhead Camping
- Red Fir Flat Group Campground
- Panther Meadows Campground
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- Shasta River
- Iron Gate Dam To Happy Camp
- Headwaters In Russian Wilderness To Wilderness Boundary
- Wilderness Boundary To Forest Road 40n54
- Headwaters In Marble Mountains Wilderness To Pre-1984 Wilderness Boundary
- Scott District Boundary To Confluence With Sixmile Creek
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Shasta River 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 Shasta River
Where does the data for Shasta River 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 Shasta River.