Stony Gorge dam
Stony Gorge
Stony Gorge, located in Glenn County, California, is a Federal-owned structure managed by the Bureau of Reclamation. Completed in 1928, this buttress dam serves as a vital water supply source for the region, with a storage capacity of 58,500 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 50,380 acre-feet. The dam stands at 151 feet in height and has a structural height of 151 feet, providing essential water resources for the surrounding area.
With a hazard potential categorized as high, Stony Gorge underwent modifications in 1985 for hydraulic and structural improvements, as well as seismic upgrades in 2009. The dam has a risk assessment rating of moderate (3), indicating the importance of ongoing risk management measures. Despite its age, the condition assessment of Stony Gorge is currently listed as not available, emphasizing the need for regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its continued function and safety.
In the event of an emergency, the Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for Stony Gorge was last revised in 2016, with an annual inspection frequency to monitor its safety. With its critical role in water supply and risk management, Stony Gorge stands as a key infrastructure for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor and support for the sustainable management of California's water systems.
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 Stony Gorge -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nf Cache C A Hough Spring Nr Clearlake Oaks Ca | 31 cfs | → |
| Elder C Nr Paskenta Ca | 27 cfs | → |
| Nf Cache C Nr Clearlake Oaks Ca | 236 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R A Colusa Ca | 7,390 cfs | → |
| Ef Russian R Nr Calpella Ca | 40 cfs | → |
| Mill C Nr Los Molinos Ca | 240 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Stony Gorge.
Campgrounds
- Grimy Gulch - Stony Gorge Reservoir - Usbr
- Brownell Camp
- Upper Nye Camp
- River Spot
- Orland Buttes - Black Butte Lake
- East Park Reservoir - Usbr
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters In Sec 28, T18n, R8w To One-Third Mile Beyond Snow Mt. Wilderness Boundary At Private Property Boundary Near Paradise Creek
- Road 24n01 Crossing At The "Slab" To Nf Boundary
- Private Land In Sec 1, T21n, R9w To Confluence Of Cold Creek And Black Butte River
- Elk Creek
- North Fork Cache Creek
- Deep Hole Creek
More reservoirs
Track Stony Gorge 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 Stony Gorge
Where does the data for Stony Gorge 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 Stony Gorge.