Dry Creek dam
Dry Creek
Dry Creek, located in Brentwood, California, is a crucial water resource managed by local government authorities. The dam, constructed in 1963 by the USDA NRCS, stands at 30 feet high and serves primarily for flood risk reduction. With a storage capacity of 330 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 47.1 acres, Dry Creek plays a vital role in safeguarding the community against potential hazards.
The dam is regulated by the Department of Water Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the condition assessment conducted in September 2017 deemed it to be satisfactory. With its strategic location in Contra Costa County, Dry Creek not only provides flood protection but also serves as a critical component of the local water infrastructure, highlighting its importance in the region.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Dry Creek represents a significant investment in water resource management in California. It stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of local and federal agencies to address the challenges posed by climate change and ensure the safety and security of communities in the face of increasing hydrological risks. As a key structure in the region, Dry Creek exemplifies effective dam management practices and serves as a model for sustainable water resource development in the state.
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 Dry Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Marsh C A Brentwood Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Dutch Slough Bl Jersey Island Rd A Jersey Island | 3,370 cfs | → |
| Old R A Bacon Island Ca | 5,110 cfs | → |
| San Joaquin R A Jersey Point Ca | 4,390 cfs | → |
| False R Nr Oakley Ca | 13,000 cfs | → |
| Middle R At Middle River Ca | 6,390 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dry Creek.
Boat launches
- California Aqueduct Bikeway, Byron
- Mcavoy Road 1099, Bay Point
- Belden's Landing Boat Launch
- Lake Elizabeth Boat Ramp
- Doolittle Drive 7250, Oakland
- Chelsea Drive 5094, Newark
Campgrounds
- Round Valley Group Camp
- Contra Costa County Fair Rv Park
- Stagecoach Group Camp
- Wildcat Group Camp
- Boundary Group Camp
- Bbq Terrace Horse Camp
Fishing spots
- Contra Loma Reservoir
- Cliff House Fishing Access Area
- Del Valle Lake
- Lafayette Reservoir
- Del Valle Reservoir/Lake
- Almond Reservoir
Track Dry Creek 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 Dry Creek
Where does the data for Dry Creek 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 Dry Creek.