The Hill Ranch dam
The Hill Ranch
Located in Sonoma County, California, The Hill Ranch is a privately owned earth dam built in 1955 on the Santa Rosa Creek. With a height of 49 feet and a storage capacity of 160 acre-feet, this dam serves primarily for irrigation and water supply purposes. The dam has a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition, as per the last inspection in February 2020.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources and subject to state regulation, The Hill Ranch dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. Situated in Oakmont, the dam's location offers a unique blend of natural beauty and engineering marvel, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts alike. With its strategic position in the Sacramento District and under the jurisdiction of state regulatory agencies, The Hill Ranch represents a vital component of California's water infrastructure.
As an essential part of the state's water supply network, The Hill Ranch dam stands as a testament to human ingenuity in harnessing and managing water resources. With its impressive structure and significant storage capacity, this dam symbolizes the ongoing efforts to ensure water security and sustainability in a changing climate. For those interested in water resource management and climate adaptation, The Hill Ranch serves as a captivating example of the intersection between nature, technology, and environmental stewardship.
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 The Hill Ranch -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sonoma Creek A Kenwood Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Matanzas C A Santa Rosa Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Santa Rosa C A Santa Rosa Ca | 19 cfs | → |
| Colgan C Nr Santa Rosa Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Copeland C A Rohnert Park Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Napa R Nr St Helena Ca | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near The Hill Ranch.
Boat launches
- Chaparral Cove Napa County
- Knoxville Road 1601, Napa County
- Napa Valley Vine Trail, Napa
- Cuttings Wharf Road 3175-3337, Napa
- Cuttings Wharf Road 3270, Napa
- Sears Point Road 100-138, Novato
Campgrounds
- Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
- Spring Lake Regional Park
- Sonoma County Fairgrounds Rv Park
- Bothe - Napa Valley State Park
- Camp Via (Sonoma Developmental Center)
- Napa County Fairgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Olema Ranch Campground To Caltrans Corporation Yard At Point Reyes Station
- 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.
- Cache Creek
Track The Hill Ranch 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 The Hill Ranch
Where does the data for The Hill Ranch 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 The Hill Ranch.