Cache Creek Settling Basin dam
Cache Creek Settling Basin
Cache Creek Settling Basin, located in Yolo, California, is a state-regulated structure designed for debris control on Cache Creek. Completed in 1993, this earth dam stands at 29 feet in height and stretches over 40,000 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 3,800 acre-feet. The primary purpose of this basin is to manage debris and sediment in the waterway, ensuring the flow remains unobstructed for environmental and safety reasons.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and regulated by the Safety of Dams agency, Cache Creek Settling Basin is inspected regularly to maintain its satisfactory condition and low hazard potential. The structure has a hydraulic height of 14.2 feet and covers a surface area of 3,600 acres, serving as a critical component in the region's water resource management and flood control efforts. Despite its low hazard rating, the settling basin plays a crucial role in protecting downstream areas from potential debris flow and ensuring the efficient flow of water in Cache Creek.
With its strategic location and purposeful design, Cache Creek Settling Basin not only contributes to debris control but also enhances the overall resiliency of the water infrastructure in the region. As a state-owned and operated facility, it represents a commitment to sustainable water resource management and climate resilience, underscoring the importance of proactive measures in safeguarding our waterways and communities from 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 Cache Creek Settling Basin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cache C Outflow From Settling Basin Nr Woodland Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Cache C Overflow Weir From Settling Bas Nr Wood'ld | · | → |
| Yolo Bypass Nr Woodland Ca | 36 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R A Verona Ca | 8,700 cfs | → |
| Cache C A Yolo Ca | 9 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R Deep Water Ship Channel Nr Freeport | 3,450 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cache Creek Settling Basin.
Boat launches
- Old River Road 19091, West Sacramento
- Garden Highway 10000, Sacramento
- Highway 45, Knights Landing
- Natomas Park Drive, Sacramento
- County Road 136 179-199, West Sacramento
- Pocket Road 7656, Sacramento
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Cache Creek Settling Basin 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 Cache Creek Settling Basin
Where does the data for Cache Creek Settling Basin 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 Low 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 Cache Creek Settling Basin.