Seneca dam
Seneca
Seneca, located in Oakland, California, is a crucial water supply dam managed by a public utility. Completed in 1950, this earth dam stands at 40 feet high and has a storage capacity of 92 acre-feet. With a primary purpose of water supply, Seneca plays a vital role in providing water to the surrounding area.
Managed by the Department of Water Resources and Safety of Dams, Seneca is regulated and inspected regularly to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam has a low hazard potential and has been assessed to be in satisfactory condition as of September 2017. With a last inspection date in October 2019, Seneca is continually monitored to meet safety standards and emergency preparedness guidelines.
Situated in Alameda County, Seneca is part of the Sacramento District and serves as an offstream reservoir. With its strategic location and vital role in water supply, Seneca is a significant structure contributing to water resource management in the region. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Seneca's presence highlights the importance of sustainable water infrastructure and the need for continuous monitoring and maintenance to ensure a stable water supply in the face of changing climate conditions.
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.
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Seneca.
⚓ Boat launches
- Doolittle Drive 7250, Oakland
- San Francisco Bay Trail, Oakland
- Mckay Avenue 1200, Alameda
- San Francisco Bay Trail, Berkeley
- Powell Street 3310, Emeryville
- Pan American Esplanade San Francisco
⛺ Campgrounds
- Bort Meadow Group Camp
- Anthony Chabot Regional Park
- Anthony Chabot Family Campground
- Pal Camp
- Girls Camp
- Corral Camp
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 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.
- Olema Ranch Campground To Caltrans Corporation Yard At Point Reyes Station
- Gold Creek To Three Pools (Opal Creek Run)
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Seneca 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 Seneca
Where does the data for Seneca 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 Seneca.