Canada Road dam
Canada Road
Canada Road is a state-owned structure in San Mateo, California, designed for flood risk reduction along the San Mateo Creek. Completed in 1971, this earth dam stands at a height of 52 feet and spans a length of 1300 feet, with a storage capacity of 74 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition, regular state inspections ensure its continued safety and functionality.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams jurisdiction, Canada Road plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks and ensuring water supply reliability in the region. With a focus on state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement, this dam exemplifies proactive management practices that prioritize public safety and environmental protection. As a key component of the state's infrastructure, Canada Road underscores the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of climate change challenges.
Located in the San Francisco District and overseen by state agencies, Canada Road exemplifies California's commitment to effective dam management and flood risk reduction. With an emphasis on safety and regulatory compliance, this structure showcases the state's proactive approach to water resource management in the context of evolving climate conditions. As water enthusiasts and climate advocates, understanding the critical role of dams like Canada Road is essential for safeguarding communities and ecosystems in the face of increasing water-related 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 Canada Road -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Mateo C Bl Lo Crystal Sp Res Nr San Mateo Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Pilarcitos C Bl Stone Dam Nr Hillsborough Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Pilarcitos C A Half Moon Bay Ca | 10 cfs | → |
| San Francisquito C A Stanford University Ca | 6 cfs | → |
| Matadero C A Palo Alto Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Gregorio C A San Gregorio Ca | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Canada Road.
Boat launches
- Sawyer Camp Trail San Mateo County
- J Hart Clinton Drive San Mateo
- Whidbey Lane Redwood City
- San Andreas Trail San Bruno
- San Francisco Bay Trail, South San Francisco
- San Francisco Bay Trail East Palo Alto
Campgrounds
- Sweetwood Group Camp
- Half Moon Bay State Beach
- Dispersed Camping
- Camp Jones Gulch Ymca
- Candlestick Rv Park
- San Mateo Memorial County Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Mouth
- Headwaters To Ends One Quarter Mile South Of Bear Valley Road Bridge Segment 1: Ends 1/4 Mile South Of Bear Valley Road Bridge Segment 2: Caltrans Corporation Yard At Point Reyes Staton.
- Gold Creek To Three Pools (Opal Creek Run)
- Olema Ranch Campground To Caltrans Corporation Yard At Point Reyes Station
Track Canada Road 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 Canada Road
Where does the data for Canada Road 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 Low 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 Canada Road.