Mcguire dam
Mcguire
Mcguire is a privately owned dam located in Mendocino, California, specifically in a populated area near the Sfk Noyo River. Built in 1967, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 27 feet with a hydraulic height of 20 feet. It serves primarily as a water supply source, offering irrigation and recreational opportunities as well. With a storage capacity of 190 acre-feet and a surface area of 21 acres, Mcguire plays a crucial role in water management in the region.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources and regulated by the Safety of Dams division, Mcguire has a high hazard potential but is currently assessed as being in satisfactory condition as of September 2017. The dam is regularly inspected, with the most recent inspection taking place in December 2020. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition is considered adequate for now, meeting safety guidelines and ensuring that emergency preparedness protocols are in place if needed.
With its strategic location and vital role in water supply and management, Mcguire stands as a key infrastructure asset in California's water resource landscape. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, dams like Mcguire will play an increasingly crucial role in ensuring water security for the region's residents and ecosystems. The ongoing monitoring and maintenance of Mcguire demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding this essential water resource for current and future generations.
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 Mcguire -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big R Blw Two Log Cr Nr Comptche Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Noyo R Nr Fort Bragg Ca | 28 cfs | → |
| Willits C Ab Lk Emily Nr Willits Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Navarro R Nr Navarro Ca | 44 cfs | → |
| Outlet C Nr Willits Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Russian R Nr Ukiah Ca | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mcguire.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Dunlap Campground
- Camp 8
- Poison Oak Campground
- Horse Camp Campground
- Roundhouse Campground
- Tin Can Campground
Fishing spots
- Cameron's Fishing Hole Catch & Release
- Lake Mendocino
- Lake Pillsbury
- Buckeye Creek
- Benbow Lake
- Clear Lake (Lake Cty)
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Mcguire 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 Mcguire
Where does the data for Mcguire 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 Mcguire.