Whiskeytown dam
Whiskeytown
Whiskeytown, also known as Claire A. Hill Whiskeyton, is a Federal-owned hydroelectric facility located in Shasta, California. The dam, completed in 1963, stands at a height of 263 feet and has a structural height of 282 feet, with a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation. The reservoir has a maximum storage capacity of 276,117 acre-feet and serves multiple purposes including irrigation and water supply for the region.
Situated on Clear Creek in Shasta County, Whiskeytown Dam has a surface area of 3,458 acres and a drainage area of 202 square miles. The spillway, with a width of 21 feet, is uncontrolled, and the dam has a high hazard potential. While the condition assessment is not available, the risk assessment is moderate, indicating potential risks that need to be managed. The dam is regulated by the Bureau of Reclamation, which also handles inspections, operations, and fundings for the facility.
Whiskeytown Dam plays a crucial role in providing water resources and hydroelectric power to the region. With its scenic location and important water management functions, it is a significant asset for both water resource and climate enthusiasts. The dam's high hazard potential and moderate risk assessment highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and management to ensure the safety and reliability of this vital infrastructure.
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 Whiskeytown -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento R A Keswick Ca | 8,430 cfs | → |
| Clear C Nr Igo Ca | 220 cfs | → |
| Anderson-Cottonwood Id Cn At Sharon St Redding Ca | 236 cfs | → |
| Trinity R A Lewiston Ca | 1,190 cfs | → |
| Cow C Nr Millville Ca | 271 cfs | → |
| Rush C Nr Lewiston Ca | 21 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Whiskeytown.
⚓ Boat launches
- Keswick Boat Ramp
- Lake Redding Boat Ramp
- Auditorium Drive Redding
- Park Marina Drive 2515, Redding
- Park Marina Drive 2525, Redding
- Clear Creek Road 17501-17987, Redding
⛺ Campgrounds
- Peltier Campground
- Peltier Bridge Primitive Campground
- Horse Camp Primitive Campground
- Brandy Creek Campground
- Brandy Creek
- Brandy Creek Rv
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
More paddle runs →Track Whiskeytown 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 Whiskeytown
Where does the data for Whiskeytown 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 Whiskeytown.