Bassett Brown dam
Bassett Brown
Bassett Brown is a privately-owned earth dam located in Monticello, California, on Sage Creek. Completed in 1990, this dam serves the primary purpose of irrigation, with a height of 36 feet and a hydraulic height of 28.5 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 16.41 acre-feet and a surface area of 2 acres, making it a vital resource for water management in the region.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, Bassett Brown is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2017 rated it as fair. The last inspection in July 2020 indicated that the dam meets safety guidelines, with an inspection frequency of once per year.
Located in Napa County, California, Bassett Brown plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities in the area. With its robust design and regulatory oversight, the dam ensures reliable water supply for irrigation purposes while adhering to safety standards. Climate enthusiasts and water resource experts can appreciate the significance of Bassett Brown in sustaining water resources in the region and mitigating risks associated with potential hazards.
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 Bassett Brown -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Napa R Nr St Helena Ca | 8 cfs | → |
| Napa R Nr Napa Ca | 27 cfs | → |
| Putah C Nr Winters Ca | 548 cfs | → |
| Sonoma Creek A Kenwood Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Sonoma C A Agua Caliente Ca | 10 cfs | → |
| Nathanson C A Sonoma Ca | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bassett Brown.
Boat launches
- Knoxville Road 1601, Napa County
- Chaparral Cove Napa County
- Napa Valley Vine Trail, Napa
- Cuttings Wharf Road 3175-3337, Napa
- Cuttings Wharf Road 3270, Napa
- North Camino Alto Vallejo
Campgrounds
- Spanish Flat Camp Site Office
- Spanish Flat Camp Site
- Foothill Pines - Lake Berryessa - Usbr
- Lupine Shores Camp Site
- Lupine Shores - Lake Berryessa - Usbr
- Steele Canyon Camp Site
Fishing spots
- Lake Berryessa
- Berryessa Lake
- Lake Ralphine
- 9th Street Boat Ramp
- City Of Benicia Fishing Pier
- San Pablo Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Cache Creek
- Olema Ranch Campground To Caltrans Corporation Yard At Point Reyes Station
- 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.
Track Bassett Brown 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 Bassett Brown
Where does the data for Bassett Brown 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 Bassett Brown.