Oak Site dam
Oak Site
Oak Site is a state-regulated dam located in Santa Cruz, California, specifically in the city of Swanton. Built in 1969, this earth dam stands at 43 feet high with a hydraulic height of 37 feet, providing essential water supply for irrigation and domestic use. With a storage capacity of 20 acre-feet and a surface area of 2 acres, Oak Site is a crucial infrastructure that supports water management in the region.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, Oak Site has a low hazard potential and is currently in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in September 2017. The dam is inspected annually to ensure its structural integrity and safe operation. While no emergency action plan (EAP) is currently in place, the dam's risk management measures and guidelines are continuously evaluated to meet safety standards and mitigate potential risks associated with its operations.
Despite its relatively modest size and hazard potential, Oak Site plays a significant role in the local water resource management system. As a vital infrastructure for water supply, this dam serves as a testament to California's commitment to safeguarding its water resources and ensuring the resilience of its hydraulic infrastructure in the face of climate change challenges.
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 Oak Site -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Lorenzo R A Big Trees Ca | 48 cfs | → |
| Saratoga C A Saratoga Ca | 5 cfs | → |
| San Lorenzo R A Santa Cruz Ca | 48 cfs | → |
| Pescadero C Nr Pescadero Ca | 17 cfs | → |
| Soquel C A Soquel Ca | 15 cfs | → |
| San Gregorio C A San Gregorio Ca | 15 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oak Site.
Boat launches
- Stevens Creek Reservoir
- Mckean Road 22707-22725, San Jose
- Santa Clara County
- Palo Alto Boat Launch
- San Francisco Bay Trail East Palo Alto
- Rountree Lane Santa Cruz County
Campgrounds
- Manti Trail Camp
- Ruppel's Roost
- Dirksen Grove
- Deer Meadow Group Campground
- Little Basin Cabins And Camping
- Nephi Trail Camp
Fishing spots
Track Oak Site 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 Oak Site
Where does the data for Oak Site 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 Low 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 Oak Site.