Percolation Area dam
Percolation Area
The Percolation Area in Paicines, California, is a vital water resource infrastructure designed primarily for water supply purposes, including irrigation. Completed in 1951, this earth dam stands at 12 feet in height and has a storage capacity of 430 acre-feet. Situated along the Tr Los Muertos Creek, it serves as a crucial component of the local water management system in San Benito County.
Owned privately, the Percolation Area is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources and the Safety of Dams agency. With a low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, this structure plays a key role in ensuring the efficient distribution of water for agricultural and domestic use in the region. The dam's location, at 36.8357 latitude and -121.1962 longitude, showcases its strategic placement within the Sacramento District.
Despite its simple design and modest size, the Percolation Area is a critical piece of infrastructure that contributes to the overall water security in the area. With regular inspections and enforcement measures in place, this dam continues to play a crucial role in water management and conservation efforts in the region, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource management practices in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Percolation Area -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tres Pinos C Nr Tres Pinos Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Benito R A Hwy 156 Nr Hollister Ca | · | → |
| Pacheco C Nr Dunneville Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| San Benito R Nr Willow Creek School Ca | 35 cfs | → |
| Llagas C Nr Gilroy | 11 cfs | → |
| Pajaro R A Chittenden Ca | 41 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Percolation Area.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- San Justo Reservoir
- San Luis Reservoir
- Los Banos Reservoir
- O&Acute;Neill Forebay
- Oneill Forebay
- Coyote Lake
Paddle runs
- Larious Creek
- San Carlos Creek
- Picacho Creek
- San Benito River
- Clear Creek
- Ventana Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary
More reservoirs
Track Percolation Area 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 Percolation Area
Where does the data for Percolation Area 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 Percolation Area.