Faucherie Spillway Auxiliary
Faucherie Spillway Auxiliary is a gravity dam located in Nevada County, California, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Faucherie Spillway Auxiliary
The primary purpose of Faucherie Spillway Auxiliary is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Nevada Irrigation District (public utility). It impounds the Canyon Creek near Canyon Creek Campground.
The dam stands 3 feet tall and stretches 150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 152 acres, has a storage capacity of 5,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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.
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 | Nevada |
| Nearest City | Canyon Creek Campground |
| River/Stream | Canyon Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.42900, -120.56710 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 3 ft |
| Dam Height | 3 ft |
| Dam Length | 150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 152 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 10,050 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Nevada Irrigation District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/22/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00256 |
| Federal ID | CA00256S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |