Newell dam
Newell
Newell, also known as Loch Lomond, is a local government-owned dam located in Felton, California. Built in 1960, this earth dam on Newell Creek stands at a height of 182 feet and has a storage capacity of 8991 acre-feet, making it primarily used for water supply purposes. The dam's hazard potential is classified as high, with a fair condition assessment as of September 2017.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources and regulated by the Safety of Dams agency, Newell Dam is subject to regular state permitting, inspection, and enforcement. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition is deemed fair, with the last inspection conducted in June 2020. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in August 2020, ensuring preparedness in the event of any unforeseen risks or emergencies.
Newell Dam not only serves as a crucial water supply source but also offers recreational opportunities within its 172-acre surface area. With its captivating history and vital role in water resource management, Newell Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of infrastructure, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship in the Santa Cruz County region.
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 Newell -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Lorenzo R A Big Trees Ca | 41 cfs | → |
| San Lorenzo R A Santa Cruz Ca | 37 cfs | → |
| Soquel C A Soquel Ca | 11 cfs | → |
| Saratoga C A Saratoga Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Pescadero C Nr Pescadero Ca | 14 cfs | → |
| Corralitos C A Freedom Ca | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Newell.
Boat launches
- Stevens Creek Reservoir
- Mckean Road 22707-22725, San Jose
- Rountree Lane Santa Cruz County
- Pinto Lake City Park
- Uvas Road 15000-15208, Morgan Hill
- Oak Glen Avenue 17655, Morgan Hill
Campgrounds
- Cityteam Camp May Mac
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
- Camping Henry Cowell Redwood Stage Park
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Boy Scouts Of America Camp
- Ruppel's Roost
Fishing spots
Track Newell 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 Newell
Where does the data for Newell 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 Newell.