Los Vaqueros dam
Los Vaqueros
Located in Brentwood, California, Los Vaqueros is a key water supply reservoir in Contra Costa County. Completed in 1997, this earth dam stands at 231 feet tall with a storage capacity of 160,000 acre-feet, serving as a vital resource for the region. The reservoir's primary purpose is water supply, with the surrounding area covering 1836 acres and draining a 18.75 square mile watershed that includes the Kellogg Creek.
Managed by a public utility and regulated by the California Department of Water Resources for dam safety, Los Vaqueros has a high hazard potential but is currently deemed to be in satisfactory condition following a 2017 assessment. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in December 2020, ensuring preparedness for any potential risks. With its strategic location and critical role in supplying water to the region, Los Vaqueros serves as a symbol of sustainable water management in the face of climate challenges, making it a must-visit destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
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 Los Vaqueros -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Marsh C A Brentwood Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Grant Line Cn Nr Tracy Ca | 4,810 cfs | → |
| Old R A Bacon Island Ca | 5,110 cfs | → |
| Dutch Slough Bl Jersey Island Rd A Jersey Island | 3,370 cfs | → |
| Middle R At Middle River Ca | 6,390 cfs | → |
| Alamo Cn Nr Pleasanton Ca | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Los Vaqueros.
Boat launches
- California Aqueduct Bikeway, Byron
- Mcavoy Road 1099, Bay Point
- Lake Elizabeth Boat Ramp
- Chelsea Drive 5094, Newark
- Doolittle Drive 7250, Oakland
- Belden's Landing Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Round Valley Group Camp
- Mt. Diablo State Park
- Wildcat Group Camp
- Live Oak Campground
- Stagecoach Group Camp
- Bbq Terrace Horse Camp
Fishing spots
- Contra Loma Reservoir
- Del Valle Lake
- Del Valle Reservoir/Lake
- Almond Reservoir
- Chabot Lake
- Cliff House Fishing Access Area
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.
More reservoirs
Track Los Vaqueros 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 Los Vaqueros
Where does the data for Los Vaqueros 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 Los Vaqueros.