Sly Creek
Sly Creek is an earth dam located in Butte County, California, built in 1961. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Sly Creek
The primary purpose of Sly Creek is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by South Feather Water And Power Agency (public utility). It impounds the Lost Creek near Woodleaf Powerhouse.
The dam stands 299 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 619 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 65,650 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 24 square miles. Completed in 1961, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/22/2023.
At 299 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The California dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | California |
| County | Butte |
| Nearest City | Woodleaf Powerhouse |
| River/Stream | Lost Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.58240, -121.11570 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 299 ft |
| Dam Height | 299 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 65,650 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 65,650 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 65,050 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 619 acres |
| Drainage Area | 24 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 19,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | South Feather Water and Power Agency |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/22/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00272 |
| Federal ID | CA00272 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |