Foss Creek North Area dam
Foss Creek North Area
Located in Healdsburg, California, the Foss Creek North Area is a vital water resource infrastructure managed by the local government. This flood risk reduction dam, completed in 1998, stands at a height of 20 feet and has a storage capacity of 85 acre-feet. With a drainage area of 0.55 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding, making it a key component in the region's water resource management.
Managed by the Department of Water Resources and regulated by the Safety of Dams agency, the Foss Creek North Area dam is subject to regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam has been assessed as satisfactory in condition, providing reassurance to residents and stakeholders in the event of an emergency. The dam's Emergency Action Plan is regularly updated to meet guidelines, further enhancing its readiness to respond to any unforeseen events.
With its strategic location along the Foss Creek river, the Foss Creek North Area dam serves as a critical piece of infrastructure in safeguarding Healdsburg and the surrounding areas from potential flood risks. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the importance of well-maintained dams like this one becomes increasingly evident in ensuring the resilience of communities against natural disasters.
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 Foss Creek North Area -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Russian R A Digger Bend Nr Healdsburg Ca | 222 cfs | → |
| Russian R A Jimtown Ca | 167 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Healdsburg Ca | 215 cfs | → |
| Dry C Blw Lambert Br Nr Geyserville Ca | 69 cfs | → |
| Dry C Nr Mouth Nr Healdsburg Ca | 74 cfs | → |
| Russian R A Geyserville Ca | 150 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Foss Creek North Area.
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 Foss Creek North Area 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 Foss Creek North Area
Where does the data for Foss Creek North Area 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 Foss Creek North Area.