Ward Creek dam
Ward Creek
Ward Creek, located in Hayward, California, is a vital water resource managed by the local government for flood risk reduction. The dam, completed in 1963, stands at a height of 71 feet and has a hydraulic height of 60.5 feet, with a storage capacity of 130 acre-feet. The creek has a drainage area of 1.9 square miles and spans 190 feet in length, serving as a crucial infrastructure for protecting the surrounding community from potential flooding events.
Maintained by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, Ward Creek's dam has a high hazard potential but is in satisfactory condition based on the last assessment in September 2017. Regular inspections are conducted, with the most recent one in January 2021, to ensure the structural integrity and safety of the dam. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) status and risk assessment details are currently unspecified, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and preparedness measures to mitigate potential risks and ensure the safety of the community.
With Congressman Eric Swalwell representing the area in the US House of Representatives, Ward Creek's dam plays a crucial role in flood risk management for Alameda County. As climate change continues to impact water resources and weather patterns, the maintenance and regulation of infrastructure like Ward Creek's dam are essential for safeguarding communities and ensuring sustainable water management practices for the 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 Ward Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Castro Valley C A Hayward Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Lorenzo C A Hayward Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| San Lorenzo C Ab Don Castro Res Nr Castro V Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Crow C Nr Hayward Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Cull C Ab Cull C Res Nr Castro Valley Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Lorenzo C A San Lorenzo Ca | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ward Creek.
Campgrounds
- Acorn - New Hogan Lake
- Acorn Campground
- Oak Knoll - New Hogan Lake
- Gold Strike Village Campers
- Frogtown Rv Park
- Gloryhole Rec Area- Ironhorse - Usbr
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Mokelumne River
- North Fork Mokelumne River
- Confluence With North Fork And Middle Fork Stanislaus To Clark Flat
- Sandbar To Confluence With North Fork Stanislaus River
More reservoirs
Track Ward 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 Ward Creek
Where does the data for Ward 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 Ward Creek.