Grizzly Forebay dam
Grizzly Forebay
Grizzly Forebay in Pulga, California is a privately owned hydroelectric dam on Grizzly Creek, completed in 1928. With a dam height of 98 feet and a storage capacity of 1112 acre-feet, this concrete structure serves as a key component in the region's water resource management. The dam's spillway, with a width of 100 feet, is uncontrolled, and its maximum discharge capacity is 9200 cubic feet per second.
Maintained and regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Grizzly Forebay is rated with a high hazard potential due to its structural characteristics and location. Despite its age, the dam's risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, suggesting that it has been well-maintained and managed over the years. With its strategic location and importance for hydroelectric power generation, Grizzly Forebay stands as a testament to sustainable water resource utilization in California.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Grizzly Forebay to be a fascinating example of early 20th-century engineering and its continued relevance in the modern era. Its role in providing renewable energy and managing water resources in the region highlights the importance of sustainable infrastructure for addressing current and future climate challenges. As a regulated and inspected structure, Grizzly Forebay exemplifies the collaboration between private ownership, state agencies, and federal oversight to ensure the safety and efficiency of water management systems in California.
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 Grizzly Forebay -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish C A Quincy Ca | 54 cfs | → |
| Spanish C Ab Blackhawk C At Keddie Ca | 116 cfs | → |
| Butte C Nr Chico Ca | 332 cfs | → |
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 459 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Vina Ca | 214 cfs | → |
| Mill C Nr Los Molinos Ca | 248 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Grizzly Forebay .
Boat launches
- Plumas County
- Oroville-Quincy Road 17000-17046, Meadow Valley
- Peninsula Road, Strawberry Valley
- Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, California
- Butte County
Campgrounds
- Lower Bucks
- Lower Bucks Campground
- Sundew
- Grizzly Creek Campground
- Hutchins Group Campground
- Sundew Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Rock Creek Dam To Cresta Reservoir
- Headwaters To Bucks Lake
- Caribou Reservoir To Beldon
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Feather River
- Confluence Of Spanish Creek And Indian Creek To Confluence With North Fork Feather River
More reservoirs
Track Grizzly Forebay 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 Grizzly Forebay
Where does the data for Grizzly Forebay 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 Grizzly Forebay .