Kimball Creek dam
Kimball Creek
Kimball Creek in Calistoga, California, is a vital water supply dam completed in 1939 that stands at a height of 80 feet with a hydraulic height of 74 feet. The dam holds a storage capacity of 405 acre-feet and serves the primary purpose of water supply for the local community. With a drainage area of 3.44 square miles and a surface area of 14 acres, Kimball Creek plays a crucial role in ensuring a reliable water source for the region.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for dam safety, Kimball Creek presents a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition according to the last assessment in September 2017. The dam undergoes regular inspections, with the most recent one conducted in November 2020, to ensure its structural integrity and overall safety. While the dam meets guidelines for emergency action plans, there is no information available on the status of the plan's preparation or implementation.
Located within the Sacramento District, Kimball Creek Dam is a significant infrastructure for water resource management in Napa County. With its historical significance and critical role in providing water supply, this earth-type dam on Kimball Creek is a noteworthy site for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the intersection of infrastructure, environmental conservation, and community resilience.
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 Kimball Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Maacama C Nr Kellogg Ca | 12 cfs | → |
| Russian R A Jimtown Ca | 144 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Healdsburg Ca | 168 cfs | → |
| Putah C Nr Guenoc Ca | 32 cfs | → |
| Russian R A Digger Bend Nr Healdsburg Ca | 179 cfs | → |
| Napa R Nr St Helena Ca | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kimball Creek.
Boat launches
- Chaparral Cove Napa County
- Ball Park Avenue 14775, Clearlake
- Public Boat Ramp Spur Sonoma County
- Knoxville Road 1601, Napa County
- Fisherman's Trail Sonoma County
- Island Drive Lake County
Campgrounds
- Napa County Fairgrounds
- Bothe - Napa Valley State Park
- Spring Lake Regional Park
- Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
- Sonoma County Fairgrounds Rv Park
- Horse Camp
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Cache Creek
- North Fork Cache Creek
- Olema Ranch Campground To Caltrans Corporation Yard At Point Reyes Station
More reservoirs
Track Kimball Creek 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 Kimball Creek
Where does the data for Kimball Creek 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 Kimball Creek.