Butt Valley
Butt Valley is an earth dam located in Plumas County, California, built in 1924. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Butt Valley
The primary purpose of Butt Valley 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 Pacific Gas And Electric Company (private). It impounds the Butt Creek near Little Haven.
The dam stands 80 feet tall and stretches 1,520 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,600 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 49,897 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 83 square miles. Completed in 1924, the structure is over a century 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 09/15/2022.
At 80 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Plumas |
| Nearest City | Little Haven |
| River/Stream | Butt Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.11526, -121.14510 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,520 ft |
| Year Completed | 1924 (102 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 49,897 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 49,897 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 49,800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,600 acres |
| Drainage Area | 83 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 30,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Pacific Gas and Electric Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/15/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00326 |
| Federal ID | CA00326 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |