Lytton dam
Lytton
Lytton, also known as Lytton Lake, is a privately owned dam located in Sonoma County, California, near the city of Healdsburg. Built in 1956, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 34 feet and has a hydraulic height of 30.2 feet. With a storage capacity of 410 acre-feet, Lytton primarily serves the purposes of irrigation and water supply for the surrounding area. The dam is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources, ensuring that it meets state inspection and enforcement standards.
Situated on the Tr Russian River, Lytton plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region, providing essential support for agricultural irrigation and local water supply needs. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam has been assessed as being in satisfactory condition as of September 2017. Regular inspections are conducted to maintain the dam's safety and integrity, with the last inspection taking place in January 2020. Although no major modifications or risk management measures have been reported, the dam's Emergency Action Plan is kept updated to ensure preparedness in case of emergencies.
With its strategic location and vital role in water management, Lytton serves as a key infrastructure asset in Sonoma County. The dam's presence contributes to the sustainable use of water resources, supporting the agricultural and domestic water needs of the local community. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the proper maintenance and operation of dams like Lytton are essential for ensuring a reliable and secure water supply for current and future generations.
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 Lytton -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Russian R A Digger Bend Nr Healdsburg Ca | 244 cfs | → |
| Russian R A Jimtown Ca | 172 cfs | → |
| Dry C Blw Lambert Br Nr Geyserville Ca | 70 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Healdsburg Ca | 247 cfs | → |
| Dry C Nr Mouth Nr Healdsburg Ca | 75 cfs | → |
| Russian R A Geyserville Ca | 162 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lytton.
Boat launches
- Public Boat Ramp Spur Sonoma County
- Fisherman's Trail Sonoma County
- Ball Park Avenue 14775, Clearlake
- Doran Beach Road 355, Bodega Bay
- Lake County
- 3rd Street 20, Lakeport
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Cache Creek
- North Fork Cache Creek
- Olema Ranch Campground To Caltrans Corporation Yard At Point Reyes Station
More reservoirs
Track Lytton 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 Lytton
Where does the data for Lytton 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 Lytton.