Cull Creek dam
Cull Creek
Cull Creek, also known as Cull Canyon Lake, is a vital water resource located in Castro Valley, California. This local government-owned structure serves multiple purposes, including flood risk reduction, recreation, and water supply. Completed in 1963, the earth dam has a height of 55 feet and a hydraulic height of 36.7 feet, with a storage capacity of 140 acre-feet and a surface area of 18 acres. The dam plays a crucial role in managing the drainage area of 6.2 square miles, with a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of September 2017.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, Cull Creek Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state, ensuring its compliance with safety standards. The dam's location in Alameda County, under the jurisdiction of the Sacramento District, highlights its importance in flood risk reduction for the surrounding area. With Congressman Eric Swalwell representing the district, the dam's emergency action plan (EAP) readiness and risk management measures are crucial in preparing for any potential disasters.
Despite its high hazard potential, Cull Creek Dam continues to provide essential flood protection and recreational opportunities for the community. With regular inspections and a satisfactory condition assessment, the dam stands as a reliable water resource in the region. As climate change impacts water resources, the management and maintenance of structures like Cull Creek Dam are vital in ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water supply systems in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Cull Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Crow C Nr Hayward Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| San Lorenzo C Ab Don Castro Res Nr Castro V Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Cull C Ab Cull C Res Nr Castro Valley Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Lorenzo C A Hayward Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Castro Valley C A Hayward Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| San Lorenzo C A San Lorenzo Ca | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cull Creek.
⚓ Boat launches
- Doolittle Drive 7250, Oakland
- Chelsea Drive 5094, Newark
- Lake Elizabeth Boat Ramp
- San Francisco Bay Trail, Oakland
- Mckay Avenue 1200, Alameda
- Whidbey Lane Redwood City
⛺ Campgrounds
- Anthony Chabot Family Campground
- Anthony Chabot Regional Park
- Bort Meadow Group Camp
- Corral Camp
- Camp Parks Military
- Alameda County Fairgrounds Rv
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Mouth
- 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.
- Olema Ranch Campground To Caltrans Corporation Yard At Point Reyes Station
- Gold Creek To Three Pools (Opal Creek Run)
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Cull 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 Cull Creek
Where does the data for Cull 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 Cull Creek.