Empire Weir No. 2 dam
Empire Weir No. 2
Empire Weir No. 2, located in Kings County, California along the South Fork Kings River, is a vital structure designed primarily for flood risk reduction. Constructed in 1938, this buttress dam stands at a height of 15 feet with a hydraulic height of 12.5 feet, providing a storage capacity of 480 acre-feet. Despite its age, the dam is in satisfactory condition with a low hazard potential, as evidenced by its last inspection in February 2020.
Owned and regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), Empire Weir No. 2 plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events. Its strategic location in Stratford, California, underscores its importance in safeguarding both urban and agricultural areas. With a history of successful flood risk reduction and irrigation support, this dam serves as a testament to effective water resource management in the region.
As a public utility structure, Empire Weir No. 2 not only meets regulatory standards for inspection and enforcement but also exemplifies the collaborative efforts between state and federal agencies in ensuring the safety and functionality of water infrastructure. With its solid construction and reliable performance, this dam stands as a testament to the resilience and effectiveness of water resource management in mitigating the impacts of climate change and ensuring the sustainable use of water in the region.
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 Empire Weir No. 2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Los Gatos C Ab Nunez Cyn Nr Coalinga Ca | · | → |
| Cantua C Nr Cantua Creek Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Clear C Nr Idria Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| San Joaquin R Nr Mendota Ca | 149 cfs | → |
| Panoche C A I-5 Nr Silver Creek Ca | · | → |
| Estrella R Nr Estrella Ca | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Empire Weir No. 2.
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Empire Weir No. 2 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 Empire Weir No. 2
Where does the data for Empire Weir No. 2 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 Empire Weir No. 2.