Coyote Valley Dam dam
Coyote Valley Dam
Coyote Valley Dam, also known as Lake Mendocino, is a federal-owned structure located in Mendocino, California. Completed in 1959, the dam stands at a height of 164 feet and serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, recreation, and water supply. With a storage capacity of 155,500 acre-feet, the dam is situated on the East Fork Russian River and covers a surface area of 1,740 acres.
A risk assessment conducted by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 2012 identified potential concerns such as erosion near the outlet pipe and embankment damage during earthquakes. Despite being categorized as having a moderate risk, the dam is subject to ongoing risk management measures including emergency preparation, enhanced monitoring, and surveillance protocols. The dam maintenance and operations staff continuously monitor its performance, while the emergency action plan ensures quick response and proactive warnings to evacuate downstream areas in case of an emergency.
Coyote Valley Dam plays a crucial role in reducing risk to the public downstream, with the US Army Corps of Engineers implementing measures to ensure its safe and reliable operation. Despite the identified risks, the dam's surveillance and emergency preparedness efforts aim to mitigate potential hazards and safeguard the surrounding community from the impacts of a dam breach.
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 Coyote Valley Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ef Russian R Nr Ukiah Ca | 156 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Ukiah Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Ef Russian R Nr Calpella Ca | 46 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Talmage Ca | 91 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Hopland Ca | 97 cfs | → |
| Outlet C Nr Willits Ca | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Coyote Valley Dam.
Boat launches
- 3rd Street 20, Lakeport
- Lucerne Harbor Park
- Lake County
- Island Drive Lake County
- Fisherman's Trail Sonoma County
Campgrounds
- Miti Campground
- Deer Camp Group Campground
- Mayacmas Campground
- Cow Mountain Rec Area Dispersed
- Goat Rock Primitive Campground
- Red Mountain Campground
Fishing spots
- Lake Mendocino
- Cameron's Fishing Hole Catch & Release
- Lake Pillsbury
- Clear Lake (Lake Cty)
- Lake Sonoma
- Buckeye Creek
Paddle runs
Track Coyote Valley Dam 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 Coyote Valley Dam
Where does the data for Coyote Valley Dam 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 Coyote Valley Dam.