York Hill dam
York Hill
York Hill is a privately owned dam located in Rumsey, California, along the Tr Bear Creek. Built in 1952, this earth dam stands at a height of 38 feet and has a storage capacity of 245 acre-feet, primarily serving irrigation and water supply purposes. The dam is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and functionality.
With a significant hazard potential, York Hill Dam has been assessed as being in satisfactory condition as of September 2017. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and risk assessment measures are currently unspecified, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and preparedness. The San Francisco District of the US Army Corps of Engineers is not involved in the ownership, funding, or operations of the dam, emphasizing the private nature of its management.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find York Hill Dam to be a crucial piece of infrastructure in Colusa County, playing a vital role in water supply and irrigation for the local community. Its location, design, and regulatory oversight provide a fascinating case study in dam management and the intersection of human and natural systems in maintaining water resources. The ongoing monitoring and maintenance of York Hill Dam are essential in ensuring its continued safety and effectiveness in serving its intended purposes.
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 York Hill -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nf Cache C Nr Clearlake Oaks Ca | 90 cfs | → |
| Nf Cache C A Hough Spring Nr Clearlake Oaks Ca | 31 cfs | → |
| Bear C Ab Holsten Chimney Cyn Nr Rumsey Ca | 20 cfs | → |
| Cache C Nr Lower Lake Ca | 643 cfs | → |
| Cache C A Rumsey Ca | 722 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R A Colusa Ca | 6,680 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near York Hill.
Boat launches
- Walker Ridge Road Lake County
- Island Drive Lake County
- Ball Park Avenue 14775, Clearlake
- Lucerne Harbor Park
- Lake County
- 3rd Street 20, Lakeport
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track York Hill 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 York Hill
Where does the data for York Hill 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 Significant 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 York Hill.