USGS Water-Year Summary 2023

11422000 Bear River Canal Intake near Colfax, CA

LOCATION - Lat 39°07'58", long 120°57'12" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, in SW 1/4 SE 1/4 sec.22, T.15 N., R.9 E., Placer County, CA, Hydrologic Unit 18020126, on right bank, 400 ft downstream from canal inlet, 0.2 mi downstream from Rollins Dam, and 2.2 mi north of Colfax.

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - January 1912 to September 1953, October 1964 to current year. Monthly discharge only for some periods published in WSP 1315-A. Prior to October 1912, published as "Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s Canal near Colfax;" October 1912 to September 1953, published as "Bear River Canal near Colfax."

GAGE - Water-stage recorder. Elevation of gage is 1,950 ft above NGVD of 1929, from topographic map. Prior to Mar. 25, 1946, water-stage recorder at site 1.5 mi downstream at different datum.

COOPERATION - Records were collected by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., under general supervision of the U.S. Geological Survey, in connection with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission project no. 2310.

REMARKS - Canal diverts from left bank of Bear River. Water is used to develop power at Halsey and Wise Powerplants. Part of the water is distributed for irrigation, and the remainder is eventually spilled into North Fork American River. Capacity of canal is believed to have been increased in 1917 and 1931. See schematic diagram of Bear River Basin available from the California Water Science Center.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum daily discharge, 531 ft³/s, Oct. 5, 6, 1980; no flow at times in most years.