Pine Creek dam
Pine Creek
Located in Contra Costa, California, Pine Creek is a vital local government-owned water resource designed by USDA NRCS to mitigate flood risks. Completed in 1956, this earth-type dam stands at 87 feet high with a storage capacity of 225 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 4.36 square miles. With a hydraulic height of 76.5 feet, this structure plays a crucial role in flood risk reduction for the city of Walnut Creek.
Maintained by the Department of Water Resources and Safety of Dams, Pine Creek Dam has a high hazard potential and undergoes regular inspections, with its condition assessed as satisfactory. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) was last revised in September 2020, ensuring that proper risk management measures are in place to protect the surrounding community. Mark DeSaulnier (D) is the representative for this area, overseeing the safety and regulation of Pine Creek Dam to ensure its continued effectiveness in flood prevention.
With its strategic location and significant storage capacity, Pine Creek Dam stands as a critical infrastructure asset in the region's water resource management efforts. Enforcing state jurisdiction and regulatory standards, this dam serves as a safeguard against potential flooding events, highlighting the importance of proactive maintenance and emergency preparedness to uphold its operational integrity for the community's safety and well-being.
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 Pine Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Ramon C A San Ramon Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Cull C Ab Cull C Res Nr Castro Valley Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Crow C Nr Hayward Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| San Lorenzo C Ab Don Castro Res Nr Castro V Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| San Lorenzo C A Hayward Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Alamo Cn Nr Pleasanton Ca | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pine Creek.
Boat launches
- Mcavoy Road 1099, Bay Point
- Doolittle Drive 7250, Oakland
- San Francisco Bay Trail, Oakland
- San Francisco Bay Trail, Berkeley
- Mckay Avenue 1200, Alameda
- Powell Street 3310, Emeryville
Campgrounds
- Boundary Group Camp
- Stagecoach Group Camp
- Bbq Terrace Horse Camp
- Wildcat Group Camp
- Live Oak Campground
- Mt. Diablo State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- 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 Pine Creek 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 Pine Creek
Where does the data for Pine Creek 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 Pine Creek.