Searsville dam
Searsville
Searsville Dam, located in Palo Alto, California, was completed in 1890 and serves primarily for water supply purposes, specifically irrigation. This gravity dam stands at a height of 68 feet and has a length of 260 feet, providing a storage capacity of 1,840 acre-feet from the Corte Madera Creek watershed. The dam is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
Despite its age, Searsville Dam has been assessed as satisfactory in condition, with a high hazard potential due to its location and storage capacity. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) was last revised in December 2017, ensuring preparedness in case of any unforeseen events. The dam's inspection frequency is once a year, with the last inspection conducted in January 2021. Its satisfactory condition and regulatory oversight by the DWR provide assurance of its safety and reliability in managing water resources in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Searsville Dam stands as a historic structure in California's San Mateo County, playing a crucial role in water supply and irrigation. Its presence on the Corte Madera Creek watershed highlights the importance of proper dam management and oversight in ensuring water security for surrounding communities. As the dam continues to be monitored and regulated by the DWR, its role in the region's water infrastructure underscores the need for sustainable water resource management practices 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.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Searsville -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisquito C A Stanford University Ca | 6 cfs | → |
| Matadero C A Palo Alto Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Gregorio C A San Gregorio Ca | 13 cfs | → |
| San Mateo C Bl Lo Crystal Sp Res Nr San Mateo Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Pescadero C Nr Pescadero Ca | 16 cfs | → |
| Pilarcitos C A Half Moon Bay Ca | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Searsville.
Boat launches
- San Francisco Bay Trail East Palo Alto
- Palo Alto Boat Launch
- Whidbey Lane Redwood City
- Sawyer Camp Trail San Mateo County
- J Hart Clinton Drive San Mateo
- Stevens Creek Reservoir
Campgrounds
- Black Mountain Backpack Camp
- Camp Jones Gulch Ymca
- San Mateo Memorial County Park
- Shaw Flat Trail Camp (Primitive)
- Portola Redwoods State Park
- Tarwater Trail Camp (Primitive)
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Gold Creek To Three Pools (Opal Creek Run)
- 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
More reservoirs
Track Searsville 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 Searsville
Where does the data for Searsville 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 Searsville.