Vista Del Mar Detention Basin dam
Vista Del Mar Detention Basin
Vista Del Mar Detention Basin, located in Contra Costa, California, serves as a crucial infrastructure for flood risk reduction along the Suisun Bay. This private-owned Earth dam, completed in 2011, stands at a height of 42 feet and has a storage capacity of 33.3 acre-feet. With a primary purpose of flood risk reduction, this detention basin plays a significant role in managing water levels and protecting the surrounding areas from potential inundation.
Regulated and inspected by the California Department of Water Resources and the Safety of Dams authority, Vista Del Mar Detention Basin has been assessed as satisfactory in its condition, despite carrying a high hazard potential. The facility's last inspection in February 2020 revealed no major concerns, ensuring its operational readiness in the face of potential flooding events. While no emergency action plan updates have been recorded recently, the basin's design and construction meet regulatory guidelines, providing a crucial line of defense against water-related disasters in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Vista Del Mar Detention Basin stands as a testament to the importance of robust infrastructure in managing and mitigating flood risks. Through effective regulation, inspection, and maintenance practices, this detention basin exemplifies a proactive approach to safeguarding communities and ecosystems against the threats of water-related disasters. Its strategic location and design make it a vital component in the broader efforts to ensure water resource resilience in the face of changing climate dynamics.
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 Vista Del Mar Detention Basin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Joaquin R A Jersey Point Ca | 67,400 cfs | → |
| Marsh C A Brentwood Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Dutch Slough Bl Jersey Island Rd A Jersey Island | 972 cfs | → |
| Threemile Slough Nr Rio Vista Ca | 12,800 cfs | → |
| False R Nr Oakley Ca | 45,500 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R A Rio Vista Ca | 90,600 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vista Del Mar Detention Basin.
Boat launches
- Mcavoy Road 1099, Bay Point
- Belden's Landing Boat Launch
- North Camino Alto Vallejo
- Curtola Parkway 139-199, Vallejo
- San Francisco Bay Trail, Berkeley
- Powell Street 3310, Emeryville
Campgrounds
- Contra Costa County Fair Rv Park
- Boundary Group Camp
- Stagecoach Group Camp
- Bbq Terrace Horse Camp
- Wildcat Group Camp
- Live Oak Campground
Fishing spots
- Contra Loma Reservoir
- City Of Benicia Fishing Pier
- 9th Street Boat Ramp
- Lafayette Reservoir
- San Pablo Reservoir
- Cliff House Fishing Access Area
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
Track Vista Del Mar Detention 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 Vista Del Mar Detention Basin
Where does the data for Vista Del Mar Detention 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 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 Vista Del Mar Detention Basin.