Debell dam
Debell
Debell, also known as Lake Kathryne, is a local government-owned dam located in Santa Clara, California, specifically in the city of Gilroy. Constructed in 1952, this Earth type dam stands at a height of 53 feet and serves the primary purpose of water supply for irrigation and other purposes. The dam has a storage capacity of 120 acre-feet and is situated on the Tr Bodfish Creek, within the Sacramento District.
With a high hazard potential, Debell undergoes regular state inspections, enforcement, and permitting to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations set by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program. The dam is deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in September 2017, with a comprehensive Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place to manage potential risks. The dam's location and design by the Natural Resources Conservation Service make it a crucial water resource infrastructure in the region.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the management and maintenance of dams for water supply purposes will find Debell an intriguing case study. Its strategic location, storage capacity, and regulatory oversight provide insights into the challenges and measures involved in ensuring the safety and efficiency of vital water infrastructure. With its association with the Tr Bodfish Creek and the Sacramento District, Debell stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in California's diverse landscape.
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 Debell -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Llagas C Nr Gilroy | 12 cfs | → |
| Pajaro R A Chittenden Ca | 48 cfs | → |
| Corralitos C A Freedom Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Coyote C Nr Gilroy Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Coyote C Bl Coyote Res Nr San Martin Ca | 7 cfs | → |
| Pacheco C Nr Dunneville Ca | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Debell.
Boat launches
- Uvas Road 15000-15208, Morgan Hill
- Coyote Lake Road 10700-12746, Gilroy
- Pinto Lake City Park
- Oak Glen Avenue 17655, Morgan Hill
- Rountree Lane Santa Cruz County
- Kirby Park
Campgrounds
- Mount Madonna
- Huckleberry Group Camp
- Manzanita Group Camp
- West Deer Pen Youth Camp
- Arrowhead Group Camp
- Coyote Lake County Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Gold Creek To Three Pools (Opal Creek Run)
- Headwaters North Fork Little Sur To Boy Scout Camp
- Boy Scout Camp To Confluence With Mainstem Little Sur
- Headwaters South Fork Little Sur To Confluence With Mainstem Little Sur
- Ventana Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary
- 0.25 Miles Downstream Of The Impoundment Of Sportsman's Lodge To Ventana Wilderness Boundary
More reservoirs
Track Debell 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 Debell
Where does the data for Debell 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 Debell.