Drum Forebay dam
Drum Forebay
Drum Forebay, located in Baxter, California, is a privately owned hydroelectric dam that has been regulating the waters of the Drum Canal since its completion in 1913. Standing at a height of 65.3 feet, this earth dam boasts a structural height of 65.3 feet and a hydraulic height of 60.3 feet. With a storage capacity of 621 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 520 acre-feet, Drum Forebay plays a crucial role in providing renewable energy while also managing water resources in the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Drum Forebay has a spillway width of 107 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 2600 cubic feet per second, making it a key player in flood control efforts. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by various state agencies to ensure its safety and reliability. With a moderate risk assessment rating, Drum Forebay remains a crucial piece of infrastructure in Placer County, California, contributing to both water resource management and renewable energy production in the region.
As one of the oldest hydroelectric dams in the state, Drum Forebay continues to serve as a vital component of California's water and energy infrastructure. With its historical significance, modern regulatory oversight, and crucial role in flood control, Drum Forebay stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management and climate-conscious infrastructure development in the face of a changing climate.
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 Drum Forebay -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 421 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Bl Mutton Canyon Nr Georgetown Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca | 389 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Ab Stumpy Meadows Res Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Smartville Ca | 34 cfs | → |
| Donner C A Donner Lk Nr Truckee Ca | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Drum Forebay .
Boat launches
- Lake Spaulding Road 10260, Nevada City
- Iowa Hill Road Placer County
- Fuller Lake Boating Site
- Oxbow Raft Put-In Site
- Meadow Lake Road Nevada County
- Woodcamp Access Road Nevada County
Campgrounds
- Camp Alta
- Camp Norge
- Skillman Horse Camp
- Skillman Campground
- Tunnel Mills Group Campground
- Bear Valley Group Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Langs Crossing Bridge To One-Half Mile West Of Confluence With Fall Creek (Boundary Of Nf And Private Land)
- One-Half Mile West Of Confluence With Fall Creek To Confluence With Jefferson Creek
- Generation And Giant Gaps (Tadpole To Colfax-Iowa Hill Road)
- Chamberlain Falls (Iowa Hill To Yankee Jim)
- Yankee Jim Road To Ponderosa Way (Shirttail)
- Tunnel Run (Ralston Powerhouse To Greenwood)
Track Drum 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 Drum Forebay
Where does the data for Drum 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 Drum Forebay .