Richardson dam
Richardson
Located in Sonoma County, California, the Richardson Dam stands as a vital water resource structure managed by a private entity. Completed in 1974, this earth dam boasts a height of 40 feet and a storage capacity of 96 acre-feet, serving primarily for irrigation and water supply purposes. Positioned along the Tr Gualala River in Stewarts Point, the dam plays a crucial role in supporting the local agricultural activities and recreational opportunities while ensuring water availability for the surrounding community.
Regulated and inspected by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for safety compliance, the Richardson Dam presents a significant hazard potential due to its structural characteristics and location. Despite this, the dam's condition assessment remains satisfactory, with the last inspection conducted in March 2020. With a history of fulfilling its intended purposes effectively, the dam continues to be a key feature in the region's water management infrastructure, contributing to the overall water security and environmental sustainability of the area.
As climate change impacts continue to pose challenges to water resources management, structures like the Richardson Dam play a crucial role in ensuring a reliable water supply for the community. With its strategic location and storage capacity, the dam serves as a lifeline for agricultural activities and recreational opportunities, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource management practices in the face of evolving climate conditions. By maintaining a satisfactory condition and adhering to regulatory guidelines, the Richardson Dam stands as a testament to effective infrastructure planning and management in safeguarding water resources for the present 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 Richardson -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sf Gualala R Nr The Sea Ranch Ca | 35 cfs | → |
| Nf Gualala R Ab Sf Gualala R Nr Gualala Ca | 20 cfs | → |
| Austin C Nr Cazadero Ca | 20 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Cloverdale Ca | 112 cfs | → |
| Dry C Nr Geyserville Ca | 200 cfs | → |
| Big Sulphur C Nr Cloverdale Ca | 27 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Richardson.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Camp Lisbon’S Redwoods
- Gerstle Cove
- Woodside Lower Loop
- Woodside Upper Loop
- Gualala Point Camping
- Anchor Bay Campground
Fishing spots
Track Richardson 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 Richardson
Where does the data for Richardson 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 Significant 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 Richardson.