Manzanita Diversion dam
Manzanita Diversion
Manzanita Diversion, also known as Manzanita Lake, is a private hydroelectric structure located in North Fork, California. Built in 1917, this concrete dam stands at a height of 30 feet and has a length of 205 feet. With a storage capacity of 168 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 1500 cubic feet per second, it plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Manzanita Diversion is state-regulated and subject to inspections, permitting, and enforcement. The dam's primary purpose is hydroelectric generation, utilizing the flow of the North Fork Willow Creek to produce energy. Despite its high hazard potential, the risk assessment for this structure is moderate, indicating a manageable level of risk.
As a key component of the region's water infrastructure, Manzanita Diversion serves as both a water storage facility and a source of renewable energy. With its historical significance dating back over a century, this dam continues to play a vital role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts 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 Manzanita Diversion -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nf Willow C Nr Sugar Pine Ca | 416 cfs | → |
| Big C Div Nr Fish Camp Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Joaquin R Bl Friant Ca | 520 cfs | → |
| Merced R A Pohono Bridge Nr Yosemite Ca | 2,040 cfs | → |
| Merced R A Happy Isles Bridge Nr Yosemite Ca | 1,730 cfs | → |
| Mf San Joaquin R Nr Mammoth Lakes Ca | 595 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Manzanita Diversion .
Boat launches
- Redinger Boating Site
- Mammoth Pool Rd, California
- San Joaquin River Trail, Friant
- Huntington Boat Ramp & Launching Site
- Madera County
- Road 29 Madera County
Campgrounds
- Wishon Point
- Wishon Point Campground
- Psea Camp Wishon Cove
- Spring Cove Campground
- Spring Cove
- Lupine/Cedar Bluff
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Confluence With North Fork San Joaquin River To Hells Half Acre
- Cora Creek To Confluence With San Joaquin River
- Rainbow Falls To Confluence With North Fork San Joaquin River
- Hemlock Crossing To Confluence With Cora Creek
- Blarney Meadows To South End Of Florence Lake
- Headwaters In Sec 8, T3s, R25 E To Hemlock Crossing
Track Manzanita Diversion 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 Manzanita Diversion
Where does the data for Manzanita Diversion 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 Manzanita Diversion .