Utica Auxiliary No. 5 dam
Utica Auxiliary No. 5
Utica Auxiliary No. 5, located in Alpine, California, along the North Fork Stanislaus River, is a privately owned rockfill dam with a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation. Completed in 1903, this dam stands at 7 feet high and has a storage capacity of 2500 acre-feet, serving multiple purposes including recreation and water supply. The dam has a low hazard potential and is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, with state oversight from the Department of Water Resources for safety and inspection.
With a surface area of 233.5 acres and a drainage area of 15 square miles, Utica Auxiliary No. 5 has a maximum discharge capacity of 1100 cubic feet per second. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 31 feet, and an inspection frequency of once per year to ensure its structural integrity. While the dam's condition assessment is currently not available, an Emergency Action Plan was last revised in December 2020, indicating proactive measures in place for potential emergencies.
Overall, Utica Auxiliary No. 5 plays a crucial role in water resource management and energy production in the region, showcasing the intersection of infrastructure, environmental conservation, and climate resilience. As a key component of the local hydroelectric system, this dam represents a balancing act between human development and natural ecosystems, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource practices in the face of a changing climate.
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 Utica Auxiliary No. 5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| E F Carson R Bl Markleeville C Nr Markleevilleca | 545 cfs | → |
| West Fork Carson River At Woodfords | 138 cfs | → |
| Upper Truckee R At S Upper Truckee Rd Nr Meyers Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Leviathan Mine Adit Drain Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Leviathan C Ab Mine Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Leviathan C Channel Underdrain Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Utica Auxiliary No. 5 .
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Union Reservoir East
- Union East Campground
- Union West Campground
- Utica Reservoir Campgrounds
- Spicer Meadow
- Lake Alpine
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Confluence With Clark Fork To Donnell Reservoir
- Highway 4 To Salt Springs Reservoir
- State Highway 108 To Donnell Reservoir
- Salt Springs Reservoir Dam To To A Point 1 Mile West Of Bear River Confluence
- Boundary Of Mokelumne Archeologic Special Interest Area To Confluence With North Fork Mokelumne River
- Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Middle Fork Stanislaus
Track Utica Auxiliary No. 5 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 Utica Auxiliary No. 5
Where does the data for Utica Auxiliary No. 5 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 Low 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 Utica Auxiliary No. 5 .