Hooper No. 1 dam
Hooper No. 1
Hooper No. 1 is a privately owned earth dam located in Hopland, Mendocino County, California, along the Tr Mcdowell Creek. The dam, with a height of 25 feet and a hydraulic height of 15.1 feet, was primarily built for irrigation purposes, providing a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet. Despite its fair condition assessment as of September 2017, the dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential, highlighting the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its safety and functionality.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, Hooper No. 1 is subject to state regulations, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The last inspection took place in January 2020, with a frequency of one inspection per year. The dam's condition assessment indicated its fair state, but with its significant hazard potential, it is crucial to have emergency action plans in place to mitigate risks and ensure the safety of downstream communities in case of a potential failure.
With its location in a region prone to climate variability and extreme weather events, the maintenance and monitoring of Hooper No. 1 are critical to safeguard the surrounding area from potential flooding and water resource disruptions. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of dams like Hooper No. 1 in managing water supply for irrigation purposes underscores the importance of effective dam management practices to ensure both water security and community safety in the face of changing climatic conditions.
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 Hooper No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Russian R Nr Cloverdale Ca | 112 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Hopland Ca | 88 cfs | → |
| Big Sulphur C Nr Cloverdale Ca | 27 cfs | → |
| Kelsey C Nr Kelseyville Ca | 12 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Talmage Ca | 81 cfs | → |
| Big Sulphur C A G Resort Nr Cloverdale Ca | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hooper No. 1.
Boat launches
- 3rd Street 20, Lakeport
- Fisherman's Trail Sonoma County
- Lake County
- Lucerne Harbor Park
- Public Boat Ramp Spur Sonoma County
- Island Drive Lake County
Campgrounds
- Sheldon Creek Campground
- Buckhorn Campground
- Russian River Campground
- Fountain Of Youth Camp
- Red Mountain Campground
- Goat Rock Primitive Campground
Fishing spots
- Clear Lake (Lake Cty)
- Lake Sonoma
- Lake Mendocino
- Buckeye Creek
- Lake Pillsbury
- Cameron's Fishing Hole Catch & Release
Paddle runs
- North Fork Cache Creek
- Cache Creek
- Headwaters In Sec 28, T18n, R8w To One-Third Mile Beyond Snow Mt. Wilderness Boundary At Private Property Boundary Near Paradise Creek
- Garcia River
More reservoirs
Track Hooper No. 1 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 Hooper No. 1
Where does the data for Hooper No. 1 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 Hooper No. 1.