Pit No. 5 Open Conduit dam
Pit No. 5 Open Conduit
Located in Shasta, California, Pit No. 5 Open Conduit is a privately owned hydroelectric structure on the Pit River. Completed in 1944, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 71 feet and has a normal storage capacity of 1000 acre-feet. With a maximum discharge of 4000 cubic feet per second, the dam covers a surface area of 48 acres and serves a drainage area of 4.3 square miles.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Pit No. 5 Open Conduit is subject to state regulations and inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with operational standards. With a high hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam has an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 59 feet. Despite its age, the structure continues to play a vital role in generating hydroelectric power in the region, highlighting the importance of maintaining and monitoring water resources for sustainable energy production.
The dam's location in Big Bend, California, underscores its significance in the local ecosystem and economy. As part of the broader network of hydroelectric facilities on the Pit River, Pit No. 5 Open Conduit demonstrates the interconnectedness of water resources and climate considerations in the management of infrastructure for renewable energy production. With ongoing inspections and risk assessments, the dam serves as a pivotal example of balancing energy needs with environmental stewardship 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 Pit No. 5 Open Conduit -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Burney C A Burney Falls Nr Burney Ca | 168 cfs | → |
| Pit R Bl Pit No 1 Ph Nr Fall River Mills Ca | 1,190 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R A Delta Ca | 484 cfs | → |
| Hat C Nr Hat Creek Ca | 168 cfs | → |
| Cow C Nr Millville Ca | 154 cfs | → |
| Anderson-Cottonwood Id Cn At Sharon St Redding Ca | 259 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pit No. 5 Open Conduit .
Boat launches
- Shasta County
- Site 8 (Group Site) Shasta County
- Castle Lake Trail #4w02 Siskiyou County
- Lake Siskiyou Trail - Delta Segment Siskiyou County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Pit No. 5 Open Conduit 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 Pit No. 5 Open Conduit
Where does the data for Pit No. 5 Open Conduit 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 Pit No. 5 Open Conduit .