Encinosa Basin North dam
Encinosa Basin North
Encinosa Basin North, located in Vacaville, California, is a vital part of flood risk reduction efforts in the region. Completed in 2009, this earth dam stands at a height of 20.8 feet and has a storage capacity of 146.7 acre-feet. With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment, this structure plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the California Department of Water Resources, Encinosa Basin North is designed to mitigate the risks posed by Encinosa Creek. The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with a drainage area of 2.9 square miles and a surface area of 14.8 acres. Despite its critical role in safeguarding the community, the dam has not undergone any modifications since its completion.
With regular inspections and a comprehensive emergency action plan, Encinosa Basin North is well-prepared to respond to any potential threats. While the dam has not experienced any major issues, continual monitoring and risk assessment measures are in place to ensure the safety and effectiveness of this important water resource infrastructure. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Encinosa Basin North serves as a fascinating example of how engineering and environmental stewardship come together to protect communities from 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 Encinosa Basin North -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Putah C Nr Winters Ca | 468 cfs | → |
| Napa R Nr Napa Ca | 38 cfs | → |
| Shag Slough A Liberty Island Nr Courtland Ca | 3,500 cfs | → |
| Cache Slough A S Liberty Island Nr Rio Vista Ca | 4,280 cfs | → |
| Toe Drain A Liberty Island Nr Courtland Ca | 602 cfs | → |
| Sacramento R Deep Water Ship Channel Nr Rio Vista | 9,620 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Encinosa Basin North.
Boat launches
- Belden's Landing Boat Launch
- Knoxville Road 1601, Napa County
- Napa Valley Vine Trail, Napa
- Cuttings Wharf Road 3175-3337, Napa
- Cuttings Wharf Road 3270, Napa
- North Camino Alto Vallejo
Campgrounds
- Travis Afb Military
- Lake Solano County Park
- Skyline Wilderness County Park
- Steele Canyon Camp Site
- Lupine Shores - Lake Berryessa - Usbr
- Lupine Shores Camp Site
Fishing spots
- Berryessa Lake
- Lake Berryessa
- 9th Street Boat Ramp
- City Of Benicia Fishing Pier
- Cliff House Fishing Access Area
- Contra Loma Reservoir
Track Encinosa Basin North 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 Encinosa Basin North
Where does the data for Encinosa Basin North 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 Encinosa Basin North.