Jackson Creek dam
Jackson Creek
Jackson Creek, also known as Lake Amador, is a vital water resource located in Amador, California. Managed by the local government, this Earth dam was completed in 1965 by Kaiser Engineers for irrigation purposes. With a height of 193 feet and a storage capacity of 24,000 acre-feet, the dam serves multiple functions including fire protection, stock, hydroelectric power generation, and recreation.
Situated in Buena Vista, California, Jackson Creek is regulated by the Department of Water Resources and the Safety of Dams agency. The dam's spillway width of 100 feet and maximum discharge of 51,000 cubic feet per second make it a significant structure in the region. While its hazard potential is classified as high, the risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, with regular inspections conducted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure safety and compliance.
Overall, Jackson Creek plays a crucial role in water management and conservation efforts in the area, providing essential irrigation water while also serving as a recreational destination for locals and visitors. With its strategic location and diverse functionalities, this dam represents a key component in the region's water infrastructure, highlighting the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience in California's evolving landscape.
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 Jackson Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cosumnes R A Michigan Bar Ca | 271 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Cameron Park Ca | 8 cfs | → |
| Laguna C Nr Elk Grove Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Black C Nr Copperopolis Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| American R A Fair Oaks Ca | 3,300 cfs | → |
| Morrison C Nr Sacramento Ca | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Jackson Creek .
Boat launches
- Glory Hole Road 6503, Angels Camp
- Willow Creek Boat Ramp
- Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, Gold River
- Lake Natoma Northern Boat Ramp
- Pennsylvania Avenue 3885, Fair Oaks
- Green Valley Road 661, El Dorado Hills
Campgrounds
- Oak Knoll - New Hogan Lake
- Acorn - New Hogan Lake
- Acorn Campground
- Rancho Seco Rec Area
- Gold Strike Village Campers
- Indian Grinding Rock Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Jackson 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 Jackson Creek
Where does the data for Jackson 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 Jackson Creek .