Courtright dam
Courtright
Courtright Dam, located in Fresno, California, is a rockfill structure built in 1958 for hydroelectric purposes on the North Fork Kings River. With a height of 315 feet and a storage capacity of 134,342 acre-feet, the dam provides essential water resources for the region while also serving as a key component in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's regulatory oversight.
Despite its high hazard potential, Courtright Dam has a moderate risk assessment and is regularly inspected by state and federal agencies to ensure its structural integrity and safe operation. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and proximity to Balch Camp make it a critical piece of infrastructure in the area, with emergency action plans in place to address any potential risks to surrounding communities.
As a significant water resource and climate enthusiasts' point of interest, Courtright Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable hydroelectric infrastructure in California's water management system. Its operation and maintenance underscore the crucial role that dams play in providing clean energy and water resources for the region while also highlighting the need for continued monitoring and risk management to ensure the safety and security of the surrounding communities.
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 Courtright -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Marble Fork Kaweah R Ab Horse C Nr Lodgepole Ca | 159 cfs | → |
| Mf San Joaquin R Nr Mammoth Lakes Ca | 557 cfs | → |
| Nf Willow C Nr Sugar Pine Ca | 416 cfs | → |
| Hot C A Flume Nr Mammoth Lakes Ca | 58 cfs | → |
| San Joaquin R Bl Friant Ca | 520 cfs | → |
| Big C Div Nr Fish Camp Ca | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Courtright .
⚓ Boat launches
- Florence Lake Campground
- Florence Lake Boating Site
- Huntington Boat Ramp & Launching Site
- Hume Lake Boat Launch (East Dam)
- Sandy Cove Road Fresno County
- Lake Edison Boating Site
⛺ Campgrounds
More campgrounds →🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- Blarney Meadows To South End Of Florence Lake
- Northwest Boundary Of Nf/Kings Canyon Np To Hot Springs Area
- Hot Springs Area To West End Of Blarney River
- Outlet Of Martha Lake (Boundary Extend 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of River) To Northwestern Boundary Of Kings Canyon National Park
- Headwaters To Inlet At South Lake
- Dam Outlet At South Lake To Habeggers Rv Park
Track Courtright 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 Courtright
Where does the data for Courtright 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 Courtright .