Sierra Vista dam
Sierra Vista
Sierra Vista is a privately owned dam located in Merced County, California, specifically in the city of Chowchilla. Built in 1872, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 12 feet and has a hydraulic height of 8.5 feet. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with associated purposes including irrigation and water supply. The dam has a storage capacity of 90 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 31 acres along the Chowchilla River.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, Sierra Vista is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state agency. Its hazard potential is classified as low, and its condition assessment as of September 2017 was deemed satisfactory. The dam has not undergone any modifications or upgrades in recent years, with the last inspection conducted in September 2020. Despite its age, Sierra Vista continues to serve its intended flood control purposes effectively while contributing to the local irrigation and water supply needs in the region.
Sierra Vista's presence underscores the importance of effective water resource management and climate resilience efforts in California. As a key infrastructure for flood risk reduction in the Chowchilla area, the dam plays a crucial role in safeguarding communities and supporting agricultural activities. By adhering to state regulatory standards and conducting regular inspections, Sierra Vista exemplifies a commitment to maintaining the safety and functionality of essential water infrastructure in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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.
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sierra Vista.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Wildcat Primitive Campground
- Cordoniz Campground
- Cordoniz Group Area North
- Cordoniz Group Area South
- Codorniz Rec Area
- Hidden View Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Confluence With Middle Fork Tuolumne River To Confluence With Tuolumne River
- Clavey River From Cottonwood Road To Confluence With Tuolumne
More reservoirs
Track Sierra Vista 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 Sierra Vista
Where does the data for Sierra Vista 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 Sierra Vista.