Goodwin dam
Goodwin
Goodwin, located in Knights Ferry, California, is a public utility dam on the Stanislaus River that serves multiple purposes, including flood risk reduction, irrigation, and water supply. Built in 1912, this multi-arch dam stands at a height of 101 feet and has a storage capacity of 500 acre-feet. With a drainage area of 996.5 square miles, Goodwin plays a crucial role in managing water resources in Calaveras County.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, Goodwin is subject to regular state inspections, enforcement, and permitting to ensure its structural integrity and operational safety. Despite being classified with a high hazard potential, the dam's condition was assessed as satisfactory in 2017. Emergency action plans are in place, with the last revision conducted in September 2020, to address any potential risks and ensure swift responses in case of emergencies.
With a historical significance dating back over a century, Goodwin continues to be a vital infrastructure for the local community in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks along the Stanislaus River. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the operational and safety measures surrounding dams like Goodwin is essential for promoting sustainable water management practices and ensuring the resilience of our water infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Goodwin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black C Nr Copperopolis Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Modesto Cn Nr La Grange Ca | 1,140 cfs | → |
| Tuolumne R Bl Lagrange Dam Nr Lagrange Ca | 184 cfs | → |
| Turlock Cn Nr La Grange Ca | 890 cfs | → |
| Big C Ab Whites Gulch Nr Groveland Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Tuolumne R A Modesto Ca | 188 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Goodwin.
Campgrounds
- South Lake Tulloch R.V. Campground & Marina
- Horseshoe Road Recreation Area & Campground
- Ironhorse- Glory Hole Area - New Melones Lake
- Acorn - Tuttletown Area - New Melones Lake
- Chamise - Tuttletown Area - New Melones Lake
- Manzanita - Tuttletown Area - New Melones Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Confluence With North Fork And Middle Fork Stanislaus To Clark Flat
- Sandbar To Confluence With North Fork Stanislaus River
- Clavey River From Cottonwood Road To Confluence With Tuolumne
- Below Mckay's Reservoir To Confluence With Middle Fork Stanislaus River
- Confluence With Middle Fork Tuolumne River To Confluence With Tuolumne River
- One Mile Downstream Of State Park Boundary In Sec 24, T5n, R15e To Mckay's Reservoir
More reservoirs
Track Goodwin 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 Goodwin
Where does the data for Goodwin 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 Goodwin.