Suttenfield dam
Suttenfield
Suttenfield, located in Sonoma, California, is a state-regulated dam built in 1938 for the primary purpose of water supply. Standing at 76 feet in height with a hydraulic height of 70 feet, Suttenfield spans 965 feet in length and has a storage capacity of 600 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Sonoma Creek and serves the city of El Verano by providing irrigation and water supply.
With a hazard potential classified as high, Suttenfield has undergone regular inspections, with the last assessment conducted in September 2017, receiving a satisfactory condition rating. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Water Resources and is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement. In case of emergencies, an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is in place, with the last revision made in March 2021. As an essential infrastructure for water resource management in the region, Suttenfield plays a crucial role in maintaining water supply reliability and flood control along the Sonoma Creek.
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 Suttenfield -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sonoma C A Agua Caliente Ca | 10 cfs | → |
| Sonoma Creek A Kenwood Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Nathanson C A Sonoma Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Copeland C A Rohnert Park Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Petaluma R A Copland Pumping Station A Petaluma Ca | 90 cfs | → |
| Napa R Nr St Helena Ca | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Suttenfield.
Boat launches
- Napa Valley Vine Trail, Napa
- Cuttings Wharf Road 3175-3337, Napa
- Cuttings Wharf Road 3270, Napa
- Sears Point Road 100-138, Novato
- Calypso Shores 23, Marin County
- Knoxville Road 1601, Napa County
Campgrounds
- Camp Via (Sonoma Developmental Center)
- Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
- Spring Lake Regional Park
- Sonoma County Fairgrounds Rv Park
- Bothe - Napa Valley State Park
- Napa Valley Expo
Fishing spots
- Lake Ralphine
- Lake Berryessa
- Berryessa Lake
- 9th Street Boat Ramp
- Lake Lagunitas
- City Of Benicia Fishing Pier
Paddle runs
- Olema Ranch Campground To Caltrans Corporation Yard At Point Reyes Station
- 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.
- Headwaters To Mouth
- Cache Creek
More reservoirs
Track Suttenfield 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 Suttenfield
Where does the data for Suttenfield 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 Suttenfield.