Lynch Canyon dam
Lynch Canyon
Lynch Canyon, located in American Canyon, California, is a private water supply dam on the North Fork Lynch Creek. With a dam height of 21 feet and a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet, Lynch Canyon serves primarily for irrigation and water supply purposes. The dam, classified as an earth type, was found to have a high hazard potential but is currently in fair condition as of the last assessment in September 2017.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources and regulated by the Safety of Dams agency, Lynch Canyon is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with regulatory standards. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam has not undergone any modifications in recent years, highlighting the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance to mitigate risks associated with its operation.
As a crucial water resource infrastructure in Solano County, Lynch Canyon plays a significant role in water supply management for the surrounding area. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the intricate balance between water supply needs, dam safety considerations, and regulatory oversight that are essential to maintaining the resilience and sustainability of this vital infrastructure in the face of changing environmental 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 Lynch Canyon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Napa R Nr Napa Ca | 40 cfs | → |
| Nathanson C A Sonoma Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Sonoma C A Agua Caliente Ca | 14 cfs | → |
| Novato C A Novato Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Putah C Nr Winters Ca | 402 cfs | → |
| Petaluma R A Copland Pumping Station A Petaluma Ca | 90 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lynch Canyon.
Boat launches
- North Camino Alto Vallejo
- Cuttings Wharf Road 3175-3337, Napa
- Cuttings Wharf Road 3270, Napa
- Napa Valley Vine Trail, Napa
- Curtola Parkway 139-199, Vallejo
- Belden's Landing Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Skyline Wilderness County Park
- Napa Valley Expo
- Browers Garden Camping - No Reservation Needed
- Rowser Garden Camping (No Reservation Needed)
- Travis Afb Military
- Wee-Ta-Chi
Fishing spots
- 9th Street Boat Ramp
- City Of Benicia Fishing Pier
- San Pablo Reservoir
- Lafayette Reservoir
- Berkeley Yacht Harbor
- Lake Temescal
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Mouth
- 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.
- Olema Ranch Campground To Caltrans Corporation Yard At Point Reyes Station
- Cache Creek
Track Lynch Canyon 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 Lynch Canyon
Where does the data for Lynch Canyon 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 Lynch Canyon.