Laurel Creek dam
Laurel Creek
Laurel Creek, located in San Mateo, California, is a vital water resource managed by the local government for flood risk reduction. This earth dam, completed in 1969, stands at a height of 40 feet and has a hydraulic height of 35 feet, storing up to 55 acre-feet of water. With a drainage area of 0.9 square miles, Laurel Creek plays a crucial role in mitigating potential hazards, as it has been assessed as having a high hazard potential but satisfactory condition.
The dam, with a length of 287 feet and a surface area of 3 acres, is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources for safety and enforcement. Despite its high hazard rating, Laurel Creek's condition has been deemed satisfactory, with the last inspection in September 2020. It is essential for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor Laurel Creek's risk management measures and emergency action plan to ensure its continued effectiveness in flood risk reduction and water management in the region.
As a key infrastructure in the San Mateo area, Laurel Creek serves as a critical component of the local water resource system. With its high hazard potential and satisfactory condition, ongoing inspections and risk assessments are crucial to maintaining the dam's effectiveness in flood risk reduction. By staying informed on Laurel Creek's management and emergency preparedness, water resource and climate enthusiasts can contribute to the resilience and sustainability of this essential water infrastructure in California.
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 Laurel Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Mateo C Bl Lo Crystal Sp Res Nr San Mateo Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Pilarcitos C Bl Stone Dam Nr Hillsborough Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Pilarcitos C A Half Moon Bay Ca | 10 cfs | → |
| San Francisquito C A Stanford University Ca | 6 cfs | → |
| Matadero C A Palo Alto Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Gregorio C A San Gregorio Ca | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Laurel Creek.
Boat launches
- Sawyer Camp Trail San Mateo County
- J Hart Clinton Drive San Mateo
- Whidbey Lane Redwood City
- San Andreas Trail San Bruno
- San Francisco Bay Trail, South San Francisco
- San Francisco Bay Trail East Palo Alto
Campgrounds
- Sweetwood Group Camp
- Half Moon Bay State Beach
- Dispersed Camping
- Candlestick Rv Park
- Camp Jones Gulch Ymca
- Black Mountain Backpack Camp
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.
- Gold Creek To Three Pools (Opal Creek Run)
- Olema Ranch Campground To Caltrans Corporation Yard At Point Reyes Station
Track Laurel 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 Laurel Creek
Where does the data for Laurel 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 Laurel Creek.