Giles dam
Giles
Located in Solano County, California, the Giles dam stands as a testament to the vital role of water resources in sustaining both agricultural and recreational activities in the region. Completed in 1965, this earth dam serves the primary purpose of water supply, with irrigation and recreation also being key secondary purposes. With a height of 18 feet and a storage capacity of 119 acre-feet, Giles plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area.
Operated by a private owner, Giles is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and adheres to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement protocols. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam has been assessed as satisfactory in terms of condition, with the last inspection in October 2020 confirming its structural integrity. The surrounding Tr Sweeney Creek and its drainage area of 0.4 square miles benefit from the storage provided by Giles, ensuring a reliable water supply for the local ecosystem.
Ensuring the safety and sustainability of dams like Giles is essential for mitigating risks and managing water resources in the face of climate change. With its valuable storage capacity and role in supporting agricultural irrigation, recreation, and water supply, Giles stands as a critical infrastructure asset in Solano County. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of dams like Giles is key to safeguarding our water security and adapting to the challenges of a changing climate.
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 Giles -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Putah C Nr Winters Ca | 548 cfs | → |
| Shag Slough A Liberty Island Nr Courtland Ca | 3,500 cfs | → |
| Napa R Nr Napa Ca | 27 cfs | → |
| Toe Drain A Liberty Island Nr Courtland Ca | 602 cfs | → |
| Cache Slough A S Liberty Island Nr Rio Vista Ca | 4,280 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R Deep Water Ship Channel Nr Rio Vista | 9,620 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Giles.
Boat launches
- Knoxville Road 1601, Napa County
- Belden's Landing Boat Launch
- Napa Valley Vine Trail, Napa
- Chaparral Cove Napa County
- Cuttings Wharf Road 3175-3337, Napa
- Pocket Road 7656, Sacramento
Campgrounds
- Lake Solano County Park
- Travis Afb Military
- Steele Canyon Camp Site
- Lupine Shores - Lake Berryessa - Usbr
- Lupine Shores Camp Site
- Foothill Pines - Lake Berryessa - Usbr
Track Giles 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 Giles
Where does the data for Giles 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 Giles.