Lake Fordyce dam
Lake Fordyce
Lake Fordyce, located in California, is a captivating hydroelectric reservoir nestled in the scenic surroundings of Nevada County. Built in 1873, this rockfill dam stands at a height of 145 feet and boasts a storage capacity of over 49,000 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is hydroelectric power generation, with a maximum discharge capacity of 17,500 cubic feet per second.
Managed by a private entity, Lake Fordyce is regulated by the state of California and inspected regularly for safety and compliance. The dam's spillway, with a width of 148 feet, is designed to handle controlled releases in case of excess water levels. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's risk assessment remains at a very high level, necessitating stringent risk management measures to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and ecosystems.
Despite its age, Lake Fordyce continues to play a crucial role in water resource management and hydroelectric power production in the region. With its picturesque location and impressive engineering, this historic reservoir stands as a testament to the intersection of water resources and climate resilience in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Lake Fordyce -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Truckee R Bl Div Dam Nr Sierraville Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Independence C Nr Truckee Ca | 8 cfs | → |
| Sagehen C Nr Truckee Ca | 5 cfs | → |
| Donner C A Donner Lk Nr Truckee Ca | 9 cfs | → |
| Donner C At Hwy 89 Nr Truckee Ca | 28 cfs | → |
| Truckee R Nr Truckee Ca | 278 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Fordyce .
Boat launches
- Meadow Lake Road Nevada County
- Woodcamp Access Road Nevada County
- Lake Spaulding Road 10260, Nevada City
- Fuller Lake Boating Site
- Henness Pass Road, Sierraville
- Sardine Lake Road 990, Sierra City
Campgrounds
- Sterling Lake Campground
- Sterling Lake
- Sterling Lake- Dispersed
- Meadow Knolls Group Camp
- Woodchuck
- Woodchuck Flat
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Langs Crossing Bridge To One-Half Mile West Of Confluence With Fall Creek (Boundary Of Nf And Private Land)
- Royal Gorge (Soda Springs To Tadpole Creek)
- Generation And Giant Gaps (Tadpole To Colfax-Iowa Hill Road)
- One-Half Mile West Of Confluence With Fall Creek To Confluence With Jefferson Creek
- Headwaters Se 1/4 Of Sec 10, T18, R15e To Stampede Reservoir
- Hell Hole Dam To Ellicotts Bridge
Track Lake Fordyce 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 Lake Fordyce
Where does the data for Lake Fordyce 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 Lake Fordyce .