Rainbow Diversion

STONEY CREEK· Colusa, California· Built 1913· Concrete· 54 ft tall
Low Hazard Irrigation Federal Government

Key Takeaway

Rainbow Diversion is classified as low hazard in California. It was completed in 1913 and is 113 years old. Its primary use is irrigation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 54 ft (taller than 62.8% in CA)
Dam Length271 ft
Dam TypeConcrete
Max Storage100 acre-ft
Normal Storage100 acre-ft
Surface Area0 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge0 cfs
Year Completed1913 (113 years old)
NID IDCA10359

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
State Regulated: No

Ownership

RECLAMATION

Federal Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Rainbow Diversion?

Rainbow Diversion is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Rainbow Diversion?

Rainbow Diversion is owned by RECLAMATION (Federal Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Rainbow Diversion built?

Rainbow Diversion was completed in 1913, making it 113 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Rainbow Diversion?

Rainbow Diversion serves the following purposes: Irrigation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Rainbow Diversion?

Rainbow Diversion has a dam height of 54 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.