Russian River No. 1 dam
Russian River No. 1
Russian River No. 1, located in Monte Rio, Sonoma County, California, is a captivating water resource infrastructure that has been serving the area since its completion in 1963. This buttress dam stands at a height of 10 feet and has a storage capacity of 315 acre-feet, providing water supply for the region. Managed by a public utility, this dam is regulated and inspected by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for safety and compliance.
The Russian River No. 1 dam not only serves the primary purpose of water supply but also supports recreational activities in the area. With a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment, this structure plays a crucial role in managing the flow of the Russian River. The dam's location along the river makes it a key asset for water management and flood control, contributing to the overall resilience of the region's water resources.
With its impressive history of service and contribution to the community, Russian River No. 1 is a vital piece of infrastructure in the San Francisco District's water management system. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the importance of structures like this dam in ensuring water supply reliability and ecosystem health becomes increasingly evident. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Russian River No. 1 dam is a fascinating example of how infrastructure plays a crucial role in addressing 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 Russian River No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Austin C Nr Cazadero Ca | 22 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Guerneville Ca | 223 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Windsor Ca | 311 cfs | → |
| Mark West C Nr Mirabel Heights Ca | 25 cfs | → |
| Laguna De Santa Rosa C Nr Sebastopol Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Dry C Nr Mouth Nr Healdsburg Ca | 76 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Russian River No. 1.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Campsite #13
- Campsite #20
- Campsite #22
- Campsite #21
- Bodega Dunes Campground
- Westside Regional Park Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Olema Ranch Campground To Caltrans Corporation Yard At Point Reyes Station
- 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.
- Cache Creek
- Headwaters To Mouth
Track Russian River No. 1 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 Russian River No. 1
Where does the data for Russian River No. 1 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 Russian River No. 1.