San Pablo Clearwell dam
San Pablo Clearwell
San Pablo Clearwell, located in Kensington, California, is a vital infrastructure for water supply, serving as a public utility. This offstream dam, completed in 1922, stands at a height of 42 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 17 acre-feet. With a satisfactory condition assessment and a high hazard potential, the dam is regulated and inspected by the Department of Water Resources, Safety of Dams in California.
Despite its age, San Pablo Clearwell continues to provide essential water resources to the region, with a structural height of 40 feet and a length of 627 feet. The dam's primary purpose is water supply, reflecting its critical role in ensuring a reliable water source for Contra Costa County. With regular inspections and enforcement measures in place, the dam maintains a satisfactory condition to safeguard against potential risks.
Under the oversight of state regulators and local officials, including Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, San Pablo Clearwell remains a key component of California's water infrastructure. As climate change impacts water resources, the importance of well-maintained dams like San Pablo Clearwell becomes increasingly evident, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and investment in sustainable water management practices to ensure a resilient water supply for the future.
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 San Pablo Clearwell -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Corte Madera C A Ross Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Redwood C A Hwy 1 Bridge A Muir Beach Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| San Lorenzo C A San Lorenzo Ca | 13 cfs | → |
| Cull C Ab Cull C Res Nr Castro Valley Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Ramon C A San Ramon Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Crow C Nr Hayward Ca | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near San Pablo Clearwell.
⚓ Boat launches
- San Francisco Bay Trail, Berkeley
- Powell Street 3310, Emeryville
- Northpoint Drive 1235, San Francisco
- Pan American Esplanade San Francisco
- San Francisco Bay Trail, Oakland
- Mckay Avenue 1200, Alameda
⛺ Campgrounds
- Camp Herms Bsa
- New Woodland Group Camp
- Wildcat View Group Camp
- Gillespie Youth Camp
- Maud Whalen
- Wee-Ta-Chi
🎣 Fishing spots
- Berkeley Yacht Harbor
- San Pablo Reservoir
- Lake Temescal
- Lafayette Reservoir
- City Of Benicia Fishing Pier
- 9th Street Boat Ramp
🛶 Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Mouth
- Headwaters To Ends One Quarter Mile South Of Bear Valley Road Bridge Segment 1: Ends 1/4 Mile South Of Bear Valley Road Bridge Segment 2: Caltrans Corporation Yard At Point Reyes Staton.
- Olema Ranch Campground To Caltrans Corporation Yard At Point Reyes Station
Track San Pablo Clearwell 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 San Pablo Clearwell
Where does the data for San Pablo Clearwell 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 San Pablo Clearwell.