Loch Lomond (newell Creek Dam) Reservoir
As of August 12, 2026, Loch Lomond (Newell Creek Dam) is holding 8,353 acre-ft of water. Storage data refreshed throughout the day.
Loch Lomond (Newell Creek Dam)
Loch Lomond, located in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California, was created in 1960 by constructing the Newell Creek Dam. The dam has a capacity of 2,500 acre-feet and the reservoir is the primary source of drinking water for the City of Santa Cruz. The hydrology of Loch Lomond is heavily influenced by the surrounding forests, which provide the majority of the surface flow. Snowpack also contributes to the reservoir, with winter storms bringing in significant amounts of precipitation. The area surrounding Loch Lomond is primarily used for recreational purposes, with fishing and boating being popular activities. There are also a number of hiking trails around the reservoir. Loch Lomond is not used for agricultural purposes.
Daily levels at Loch Lomond (Newell Creek Dam)
Storage volume, pool elevation, and total release plotted from the operating agency's daily observations.
Storage
acre-ft · code 2
Pool Elevation
ft · code 1
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 Loch Lomond (Newell Creek Dam) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Lorenzo R A Big Trees Ca | 19 cfs | → |
| San Lorenzo R A Santa Cruz Ca | 16 cfs | → |
| Soquel C A Soquel Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Saratoga C A Saratoga Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Pescadero C Nr Pescadero Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Corralitos C A Freedom Ca | 0 cfs | → |
About Loch Lomond (Newell Creek Dam)
What is the water level at Loch Lomond (newell Creek Dam) Reservoir right now?
As of August 12, 2026, Loch Lomond (newell Creek Dam) Reservoir is holding 8,353 acre-ft. Pool elevation and the year-over-year trend are shown above.
Is Loch Lomond (newell Creek Dam) Reservoir high or low right now?
Compare the percent-of-normal figure on this page: above 100% means storage is higher than the historical average for the date (a wet year), below 100% means lower (a dry year or drought). The daily-levels chart shows the current trend.
Where does the data for Loch Lomond (newell Creek Dam) come from?
Daily storage, pool elevation, and release rates are sourced from USGS, USBR, and USACE monitoring stations. Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
Storage observations are updated daily by the operating agency. The 15-day weather forecast refreshes throughout the day. Snoflo caches and renders the most recent observation -- check the "as of" timestamp on the storage card.
What does the Hazard 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 below 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 reservoir, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
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