Mendocino Middle dam
Mendocino Middle
Mendocino Middle, located in Talmage, California, is a gravity dam constructed in 1908 primarily for flood risk reduction along Middle Creek. With a height of 39 feet and a hydraulic height of 35.7 feet, this dam serves multiple purposes including irrigation and water supply, with a storage capacity of 27 acre-feet. The dam's fair condition assessment and high hazard potential indicate the need for regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and continued functionality.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the California Department of Water Resources, Mendocino Middle has undergone periodic inspections, with the last one conducted in December 2020. The dam's emergency action plan is currently being updated to meet guidelines, reflecting a proactive approach towards disaster preparedness. With Congressman Jared Huffman representing the area, there is political support for the dam's maintenance and risk management measures.
Despite its age, Mendocino Middle continues to play a vital role in mitigating flood risks and providing essential water resources to the surrounding area. As climate change impacts intensify, the importance of maintaining and updating infrastructure like Mendocino Middle will only grow, highlighting the crucial intersection between water resource management and climate resilience in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Mendocino Middle -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Russian R Nr Talmage Ca | 91 cfs | → |
| Ef Russian R Nr Ukiah Ca | 156 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Ukiah Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Hopland Ca | 100 cfs | → |
| Ef Russian R Nr Calpella Ca | 43 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Cloverdale Ca | 126 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mendocino Middle.
Boat launches
- 3rd Street 20, Lakeport
- Lucerne Harbor Park
- Lake County
- Fisherman's Trail Sonoma County
- Island Drive Lake County
- Public Boat Ramp Spur Sonoma County
Campgrounds
- Mayacmas Campground
- Cow Mountain Rec Area Dispersed
- Red Mountain Campground
- Goat Rock Primitive Campground
- Fountain Of Youth Camp
- Miti Campground
Fishing spots
- Lake Mendocino
- Clear Lake (Lake Cty)
- Lake Pillsbury
- Cameron's Fishing Hole Catch & Release
- Lake Sonoma
- Buckeye Creek
Track Mendocino Middle in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Mendocino Middle
Where does the data for Mendocino Middle come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Mendocino Middle.