Halsey Forebay No. 1 dam
Halsey Forebay No. 1
Halsey Forebay No. 1, located in Auburn, California, is a privately owned hydroelectric dam completed in 1913. This earth dam stands at a height of 42 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 244 acre-feet. The dam serves the primary purpose of generating hydroelectric power and is regulated by the State of California's Department of Water Resources (DWR) for safety compliance.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Halsey Forebay No. 1 has a spillway width of 40 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 1200 cubic feet per second. With a hazard potential rated as high and a moderate risk assessment score of 3, the dam is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and emergency preparedness. The surrounding area has a surface area of 18 acres and is situated along Dry Creek, making it a vital water resource in Placer County.
Despite its age, Halsey Forebay No. 1 continues to play a crucial role in the region's water management and renewable energy production. With its rich history and ongoing regulatory oversight, this dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource development 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 Halsey Forebay No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca | 732 cfs | → |
| Bear R Nr Wheatland Ca | 248 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Smartville Ca | 55 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Bl Mutton Canyon Nr Georgetown Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Dry C A Vernon St Bridge A Roseville Ca | 159 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Cameron Park Ca | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Halsey Forebay No. 1 .
Boat launches
- Rattlesnake Road Placer County
- River Trail El Dorado County
- Oak Hill Road 7935, Pilot Hill
- Oaks Nature Trail El Dorado County
- Oxbow Raft Put-In Site
- Park Road, Granite Bay
Campgrounds
- Rucky A Chucky - Auburn State Rec Area
- Bear River County Park
- Georgetown Airport Campground
- Mineral Bar - Auburn State Rec Area
- Mother Lode River Center
- Peninsula - Folsom Lake State Rec Area
Fishing spots
- Lake Clementine
- Lake Combie
- Pg&E Rock Creek Lake Fishing Access
- Lake Of The Pines
- Lake Rollins
- Folsom Lake
Track Halsey Forebay No. 1 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 Halsey Forebay No. 1
Where does the data for Halsey Forebay No. 1 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 Halsey Forebay No. 1 .