Lake Madrone dam
Lake Madrone
Lake Madrone, located in Berry Creek, California, is a picturesque reservoir primarily used for water supply but also offers recreational opportunities. The dam, completed in 1931, stands at a height of 36.78 feet with a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet. The reservoir covers 25 acres and is fed by Berry Creek, providing a vital water source for the surrounding area.
Managed by a public utility, Lake Madrone is regulated by the Department of Water Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure safety and compliance. The dam has a high hazard potential but is currently assessed as satisfactory, with emergency action plans in place. Despite its age, the structure remains in good condition and continues to serve its dual purpose of water supply and recreation for the community.
With its stunning natural setting and important role in water resource management, Lake Madrone is a valuable asset to Butte County. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the engineering and ecological significance of this earth dam, which not only provides essential water supply but also offers a serene backdrop for outdoor activities and wildlife habitat.
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 Lake Madrone -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Butte C Nr Chico Ca | 295 cfs | → |
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 549 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Smartville Ca | 40 cfs | → |
| Spanish C A Quincy Ca | 53 cfs | → |
| Yuba R Nr Marysville Ca | 1,500 cfs | → |
| Spanish C Ab Blackhawk C At Keddie Ca | 107 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Madrone.
Boat launches
- Butte County
- Bidwell Canyon Trail, Oroville
- Potters Ravine, Oroville
- Loafer Creek Road, Oroville
- River Bluff Drive 39, Oroville
Campgrounds
- Feather Falls
- Milsap Bar
- Milsap Bar Campground
- Bidwell Canyon - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
- Loafer Creek - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
- Limesaddle - Lake Oroville State Rec Area
Fishing spots
- Oroville Lake
- Thermalito Afterbay
- Bucks Lake
- Bullards Bar Reservoir
- Merle Collins Reservoir
- Englebright Lake
Paddle runs
- Highway 70 Crossing To Lake Oroville
- Nelsons Crossing To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr
- Bear Gulch To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr
- Poe Dam To Highway 70 Crossing
- Forest Road 94 To Confluence With Middle Fork Feather Wsr
- Headwaters To Bear Gulch
More reservoirs
Track Lake Madrone 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 Lake Madrone
Where does the data for Lake Madrone 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 Lake Madrone.