La Contenta dam
La Contenta
La Contenta is a significant earth dam located in Rancho Calaveras, California, with a primary purpose of water supply for irrigation and domestic use. Completed in 2002, the dam stands at a height of 43 feet and has a storage capacity of 172 acre-feet, serving the local community's water needs. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, La Contenta is deemed to be in satisfactory condition following a recent inspection in March 2021.
Managed by the local government, La Contenta is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, ensuring that state permitting, inspection, and enforcement protocols are adhered to. Situated along Tr Cosgrove Spring, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area, contributing to the irrigation of surrounding lands and providing a reliable water supply. With its strategic location and functional design, La Contenta stands as a vital infrastructure for water security in Calaveras County.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will be intrigued by the operational aspects and structural details of La Contenta, such as its spillway type, hydraulic height, and drainage area. The dam's proximity to the San Francisco District of the US Army Corps of Engineers highlights its importance in the regional water infrastructure network. As a key component in the local water supply system, La Contenta's role in managing water resources and mitigating potential risks underscores its significance in sustaining community resilience and adaptation to changing climatic 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 La Contenta -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black C Nr Copperopolis Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Cosumnes R A Michigan Bar Ca | 271 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Cameron Park Ca | 8 cfs | → |
| Laguna C Nr Elk Grove Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Stanislaus R A Ripon Ca | 1,930 cfs | → |
| Little Potato Slough A Terminous Ca | 7,590 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near La Contenta.
Campgrounds
- Acorn - New Hogan Lake
- Acorn Campground
- Oak Knoll - New Hogan Lake
- Gold Strike Village Campers
- Frogtown Rv Park
- Rancho Seco Rec Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Mokelumne River
- North Fork Mokelumne River
- Confluence With North Fork And Middle Fork Stanislaus To Clark Flat
- Sandbar To Confluence With North Fork Stanislaus River
More reservoirs
Track La Contenta 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 La Contenta
Where does the data for La Contenta 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 La Contenta.