El Rancho Dam dam
El Rancho Dam
El Rancho Dam, located in Washington County, Florida, was completed in 1958 by the USDA NRCS and serves as a recreational area for fish and wildlife ponds. The earth dam stands at 12 feet tall and stretches 450 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 79 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and uncontrolled spillway system, the dam is deemed safe for public use and has not been rated for its current condition.
Situated on Holmes Creek near Brock Crossroad, El Rancho Dam offers a serene environment for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy various recreational activities. Despite its age, the dam continues to support the local ecosystem and provides a valuable resource for the surrounding community. Managed by the NWFWMD and regulated by the state, El Rancho Dam remains an important landmark in the region.
Overall, El Rancho Dam presents a moderate risk level as assessed by authorities, but has not undergone recent condition assessments or emergency action plan updates. With its historical significance and pivotal role in water resource management, the dam stands as a testament to the enduring relationship between humans and their environment in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 El Rancho Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Holmes Creek At Vernon | 752 cfs | → |
| Wrights Creek At Sh 177-A Nr Bonifay | 96 cfs | → |
| Choctawhatchee River At Caryville | 3,410 cfs | → |
| Bruce Creek At Sh 81 Nr Redbay | 23 cfs | → |
| Choctawhatchee River Nr Pittman | 2,410 cfs | → |
| Econfina Creek Near Bennett | 390 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near El Rancho Dam.
Boat launches
- Blue Lake Earl Gilbert Landing
- Washington Boulevard, Chipley
- Cavalier Drive 3884, Chipley
- Little River Road 3998, Chipley
- Gap Boulevard 1950, Chipley
- Thomas Road, Chipley
Campgrounds
- Falling Waters State Park
- Florida Caverns State Park
- Sand Pond Recreation Area
- Pine Log State Forest
- Alliance Hill Rv Resort
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track El Rancho Dam 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 El Rancho Dam
Where does the data for El Rancho Dam 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 El Rancho Dam.