Lake Francis dam
Lake Francis
Lake Francis, located in Marysville, California, is a vital water supply reservoir managed by the local government. This earth dam, standing at a height of 79 feet, was completed in 2000 and serves the primary purpose of water supply. With a storage capacity of 1905 acre-feet and a surface area of 98 acres, Lake Francis plays a crucial role in ensuring water availability for the surrounding area.
The dam's high hazard potential is mitigated by regular inspections and maintenance, with its condition assessed as satisfactory as of September 2017. The emergency action plan for Lake Francis was last revised in December 2020, ensuring that necessary protocols are in place to address any potential risks. Despite its importance for water supply, the dam's construction and regulatory oversight fall under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Water Resources, emphasizing the collaborative effort to safeguard this essential resource.
Overall, Lake Francis stands as a testament to effective water resource management in the face of climate challenges. Its critical role in providing water security to the region underscores the importance of proactive monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and reliability of this key infrastructure. As water resources continue to face increasing pressures, Lake Francis serves as a model for sustainable water management practices in a changing climate landscape.
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 Francis -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deer C Nr Smartville Ca | 59 cfs | → |
| N Yuba R Bl Goodyears Bar Ca | 663 cfs | → |
| Yuba R Nr Marysville Ca | 1,850 cfs | → |
| Bear R Nr Wheatland Ca | 328 cfs | → |
| Nf American R A North Fork Dam Ca | 773 cfs | → |
| Butte C Nr Chico Ca | 320 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Francis.
Boat launches
- Yuba County
- Loafer Creek Road, Oroville
- Butte County
- Bidwell Canyon Trail, Oroville
- Potters Ravine, Oroville
Campgrounds
- Hornswoggle Group Campground
- Collins Lake Rv Park & Campground
- Garden Point Campground
- Garden Point
- Dark Day
- Dark Day Campground
Fishing spots
- Merle Collins Reservoir
- Bullards Bar Reservoir
- Englebright Lake
- Scotts Flat Lake
- Oroville Lake
- Lake Rollins
Paddle runs
- Confluence With Jefferson Creek To Confluence With Kentucky Creek
- One-Quarter Mile Upstream From Confluence With Slate Creek To Bullards Bar Reservoir Spillway (Elevation 1902 Feet)
- One-Eighth Mile Downstream From Confluence With Cherokee Creek To One-Quarter Mile Upstream From Confluence With Slate Creek
- Headwaters Of North Yuba River (Sec 10, T20n, R13 E) To One-Eighth Mile Downstream Of Confluence With Cherokee Creek
- Slate Reservoir To North Yuba River
- Confluence With South Fork Canyon Creek To Confluence With North Yuba River
Track Lake Francis 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 Francis
Where does the data for Lake Francis 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 Francis.