Belden Forebay dam
Belden Forebay
Belden Forebay, also known as Caribou Afterbay, is a privately owned hydroelectric facility located in Little Haven, California. Built in 1958, this rockfill dam stands at 124 feet tall with a structural height of 152 feet and a length of 653 feet. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 2,480 acre-feet and covers an area of 42.4 acres, serving as a critical component of the North Fork Feather River's hydroelectric infrastructure.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Belden Forebay plays a crucial role in generating clean energy while also regulating water flow and providing flood control. The dam's controlled spillway, with a width of 113 feet, can handle a maximum discharge of 35,700 cubic feet per second. Despite its high hazard potential, regular state inspections and enforcement ensure that the facility meets safety standards and protocols, maintaining the integrity of the structure and safeguarding the surrounding communities.
With its significant storage capacity, strategic location, and essential role in the region's water resource management, Belden Forebay stands as a testament to sustainable hydroelectric power generation and climate resilience. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the intricate design, operational efficiency, and regulatory oversight of this dam are a testament to the intersection of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship in harnessing the power of water for the greater good.
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 Belden Forebay -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish C Ab Blackhawk C At Keddie Ca | 128 cfs | → |
| Spanish C A Quincy Ca | 61 cfs | → |
| Butte C Nr Chico Ca | 320 cfs | → |
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 663 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Vina Ca | 255 cfs | → |
| Hat C Nr Hat Creek Ca | 195 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Belden Forebay .
Boat launches
- Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, California
- Plumas County
- Oroville-Quincy Road 17000-17046, Meadow Valley
- Peninsula Road, Strawberry Valley
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Confluence Of Spanish Creek And Indian Creek To Confluence With North Fork Feather River
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With Yellow Creek
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Feather River
- Caribou Reservoir To Beldon
More reservoirs
Track Belden 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 Belden Forebay
Where does the data for Belden 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 Belden Forebay .