Bottoms dam
Bottoms
Bottoms is a private dam located in Middletown, California, along the Tr Helena Creek. Built in 1990, this earth dam stands at a height of 47 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 315 acre-feet. The primary purpose of Bottoms is to provide water supply for irrigation, recreation, and domestic use in the area. It is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and is subject to regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
With a Hazard Potential rating of "High" and a Condition Assessment of "Satisfactory," Bottoms poses a significant risk in the event of a failure. Despite its satisfactory condition, emergency action plans (EAP) and risk management measures are not clearly specified for this dam, raising concerns about its preparedness for potential emergencies. The dam's last inspection was conducted in December 2020, with a frequency of once per year, indicating ongoing efforts to monitor and maintain its structural integrity. As a vital water resource infrastructure in the region, ensuring the safety and resilience of Bottoms is crucial for safeguarding both the environment and the surrounding communities.
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 Bottoms -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Putah C Nr Guenoc Ca | 35 cfs | → |
| Maacama C Nr Kellogg Ca | 17 cfs | → |
| Cache C Nr Lower Lake Ca | 604 cfs | → |
| Big Sulphur C A G Resort Nr Cloverdale Ca | 9 cfs | → |
| Russian R A Jimtown Ca | 167 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Healdsburg Ca | 215 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bottoms.
Boat launches
- Chaparral Cove Napa County
- Ball Park Avenue 14775, Clearlake
- Island Drive Lake County
- Lake County
- Knoxville Road 1601, Napa County
- Public Boat Ramp Spur Sonoma County
Campgrounds
- Napa County Fairgrounds
- Horse Camp
- Calso Campground
- Ridge Campground
- Cedar Creek Ohv Dispersed - Knoxville Ra
- Lower Hunting Creek - Knoxville Rec Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Cache Creek
- North Fork Cache Creek
- Headwaters In Sec 28, T18n, R8w To One-Third Mile Beyond Snow Mt. Wilderness Boundary At Private Property Boundary Near Paradise Creek
More reservoirs
Track Bottoms 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 Bottoms
Where does the data for Bottoms 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 Bottoms.