Bethany Forebay dam
Bethany Forebay
Bethany Forebay, also known as Bethany Reservoir, is a state-owned water storage facility located in Alameda, California. Built in 1961, this earth dam stands at a height of 95 feet and has a capacity of 5,000 acre-feet of water. Its primary purpose is water supply, serving irrigation, recreation, and other water-related needs in the region.
With a surface area of 163 acres and a drainage area of 4.46 square miles, Bethany Forebay plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is currently rated in fair condition, with regular inspections and maintenance conducted to ensure its safety and functionality. The state regulatory agency, DWR, Safety of Dams, oversees permitting, inspection, and enforcement to maintain the dam's integrity.
Bethany Forebay is a vital part of the water infrastructure in California, providing essential water supply for various purposes. Climate and water resource enthusiasts will appreciate the engineering and management efforts that go into maintaining this key reservoir to meet the region's water needs while ensuring safety and sustainability for the future.
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 Bethany Forebay -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Grant Line Cn Nr Tracy Ca | 4,810 cfs | → |
| Middle R At Middle River Ca | 6,390 cfs | → |
| Marsh C A Brentwood Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Old R A Bacon Island Ca | 5,110 cfs | → |
| Arroyo Valle Nr Livermore Ca | 7 cfs | → |
| Arroyo Valle Bl Lang Cn Nr Livermore Ca | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bethany Forebay.
Boat launches
- California Aqueduct Bikeway, Byron
- Lake Elizabeth Boat Ramp
- Mcavoy Road 1099, Bay Point
- Chelsea Drive 5094, Newark
Campgrounds
- Round Valley Group Camp
- Carnegie State Vehicle Rec Area
- Cedar Group Camp
- Venados Group Camp
- Hetch Hetchy Group Camp
- Eagles View Group Camp
Fishing spots
- Del Valle Lake
- Del Valle Reservoir/Lake
- Contra Loma Reservoir
- Quarry Lakes
- Almond Reservoir
- Cliff House Fishing Access Area
More reservoirs
Track Bethany Forebay 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 Bethany Forebay
Where does the data for Bethany Forebay 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 Bethany Forebay.