Black Rock Creek dam
Black Rock Creek
Black Rock Creek, also known as White Rock Lake, is a privately owned water resource located in Carmel Valley Village, Monterey, California. The dam, completed in 1925, stands at a height of 54 feet and serves primarily for water supply purposes. With a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet and a drainage area of 3.35 square miles, Black Rock Creek provides vital water resources for the surrounding area.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), Black Rock Creek is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the dam is subject to regular inspections, with the latest conducted in March 2020. The surrounding area offers opportunities for recreation alongside its water supply functions, making it a valuable asset for both residents and visitors to enjoy.
Represented by Congressman Jimmy Panetta, Black Rock Creek showcases the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of climate change challenges. With its earth-type dam structure and historical significance, Black Rock Creek stands as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of water infrastructure in meeting the evolving needs of communities in California.
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 Black Rock Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Carmel R A Robles Del Rio Ca | 26 cfs | → |
| Carmel R Nr Carmel Ca | 27 cfs | → |
| Big Sur R Nr Big Sur Ca | 35 cfs | → |
| Salinas R Nr Chualar Ca | 79 cfs | → |
| Salinas R Nr Spreckels Ca | 55 cfs | → |
| Reclamation Ditch Nr Salinas Ca | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Black Rock Creek.
Campgrounds
- Pine Creek Camp
- Big Pines Rustic Campsite
- Apple Tree Rustic Campsite
- Turner Creek Rustic Camp
- Comings Rustic Campsite
- Pat Springs Camp
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters North Fork Little Sur To Boy Scout Camp
- Boy Scout Camp To Confluence With Mainstem Little Sur
- Headwaters South Fork Little Sur To Confluence With Mainstem Little Sur
- 0.25 Miles Downstream Of The Impoundment Of Sportsman's Lodge To Ventana Wilderness Boundary
- 0.25 Milesupstram Of The Impoundment At Sportsman's Lodge To 0.25 Miles Downstream Of The Impoundment At Sportsman's Lodge
- Headwaters To Sportsman's Club
Track Black Rock 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 Black Rock Creek
Where does the data for Black Rock 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 Low 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 Black Rock Creek.