Amargosa Creek dam
Amargosa Creek
Amargosa Creek in Palmdale, California, is a vital water resource managed by the local government for flood risk reduction. This earth dam, completed in 1998, stands at a height of 65 feet and has a hydraulic height of 57.9 feet. With a storage capacity of 1187 acre-feet and a drainage area of 23.6 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Located in Los Angeles County, Amargosa Creek is regulated by the Department of Water Resources and the Safety of Dams agency in California. Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam has been assessed as satisfactory, with the last inspection conducted in January 2020. The dam's condition assessment in September 2017 deemed it to be in good shape, ensuring that it continues to serve its purpose effectively in mitigating flood risks for the community.
The dam's design and construction, overseen by the local government, reflect a commitment to maintaining a safe and reliable water infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions. With its strategic location and storage capacity, Amargosa Creek Dam stands as a testament to proactive water resource management in the region, safeguarding against potential environmental risks and ensuring the resilience of the local community in the face of climate 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 Amargosa Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Tujunga C Bl Hansen Dam Ca | · | → |
| Big Rock C Nr Valyermo Ca | 48 cfs | → |
| Arroyo Seco Nr Pasadena Ca | 6 cfs | → |
| Piru C Ab Frenchmans Flat Ca | 16 cfs | → |
| Piru Creek Above Lake Piru Ca | 34 cfs | → |
| Piru Creek Below Santa Felicia Dam Ca | 101 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Amargosa Creek.
Boat launches
- Lake Hughes Road Castaic
- Interstate 5, Lebec
- Vacquero Boating And Picnic Site
- Vista Del Lago Road 21, Lebec
- Piru Canyon Road 4780, Castaic
Campgrounds
- Spunky
- Antelope Valley Fairgrounds Rv Park
- Streamside
- Messenger Flats
- Messenger Flats Campground
- Big Buck
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Green Valley At The Nf Boundary To Site Of St Francis Dam Disaster
- Site Of St Francis Dam Disaster To Seco Canyon At The Nf Boundary
- Mainstream - Confluence With South Fork Little Rock Creek To Little Rock Creek Reservoir
- Cooper Canyon- Near State Highway 2 (Sw 1/4, Ne 1/4, Sec 16, T3n, R10w To Confluence With Little Rock Creek
- West Fork - Headwaters (Se 1/4, Ne 1/4, Sec 14, T2n, R12w) To Cogswell Reservoir (Ne 1/4, Sw 1/4, Sec 24, T2n, R9w
- Mainstream - Confluence With Cooper Canyon To Confluence Wit South Fork Little Rock Creek
Track Amargosa 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 Amargosa Creek
Where does the data for Amargosa 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 Significant 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 Amargosa Creek.