Graham dam
Graham
Located in Finley, California, the Graham dam stands as a testament to water resource management and climate resilience. Built in 1959 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, this earth dam serves the primary purpose of water supply for irrigation and domestic use. With a height of 39 feet and a hydraulic height of 33.6 feet, the Graham dam boasts a storage capacity of 62 acre-feet, ensuring a reliable water source for the surrounding area.
Managed by a private owner and regulated by the Department of Water Resources, Safety of Dams, the Graham dam has been deemed to have low hazard potential and satisfactory condition. The dam's location on Tr Highland Creek not only supports local agriculture but also provides a valuable habitat for wildlife in the area. The dam's inspection frequency is set at one year, with the last assessment conducted in February 2020, ensuring its continued safety and functionality in the face of changing climate conditions.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, the Graham dam stands as an essential infrastructure for sustainable water management in Lake County, California. With its strategic design, reliable storage capacity, and efficient operation, the dam plays a vital role in ensuring water security for the community. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Graham dam serves as a beacon of resilience and adaptation in the face of a changing climate, highlighting the importance of proactive infrastructure development for a sustainable 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 Graham -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kelsey C Nr Kelseyville Ca | 11 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Cloverdale Ca | 113 cfs | → |
| Big Sulphur C Nr Cloverdale Ca | 31 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Hopland Ca | 87 cfs | → |
| Big Sulphur C A G Resort Nr Cloverdale Ca | 7 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Talmage Ca | 83 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Graham.
Boat launches
- 3rd Street 20, Lakeport
- Lake County
- Lucerne Harbor Park
- Island Drive Lake County
- Fisherman's Trail Sonoma County
- Ball Park Avenue 14775, Clearlake
Campgrounds
- Sheldon Creek Campground
- Buckhorn Campground
- Cole Creek Campground
- Hike Bike Campground
- Upper Bayview Campground
- Kelsey Creek Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- North Fork Cache Creek
- Cache Creek
- Headwaters In Sec 28, T18n, R8w To One-Third Mile Beyond Snow Mt. Wilderness Boundary At Private Property Boundary Near Paradise Creek
More reservoirs
Track Graham 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 Graham
Where does the data for Graham 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 Graham.