Santa Ynez Canyon dam
Santa Ynez Canyon
Santa Ynez Canyon, located in Pacific Palisades, California, is a vital water resource infrastructure managed by the local government. Built in 1968, this earth dam stands at a height of 157 feet and serves the primary purposes of hydroelectric power generation and water supply. With a maximum storage capacity of 356 acre-feet, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area.
The dam holds a high hazard potential but has been assessed as satisfactory in condition, with the last inspection conducted in February 2021. It is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, ensuring that it meets all necessary safety standards. The dam is also subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement to guarantee its structural integrity and operational effectiveness.
Santa Ynez Canyon dam, situated on the Tr Santa Ynez Can stream, covers a drainage area of 0.23 square miles and has a surface area of 9 acres. It is a critical component of the local water infrastructure, contributing to the region's water supply and hydroelectric power needs. Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find Santa Ynez Canyon an intriguing site for understanding the intersection of water management, infrastructure, and climate resilience in Southern 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 Santa Ynez Canyon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles R A Sepulveda Dam Ca | 74 cfs | → |
| Big Tujunga C Bl Hansen Dam Ca | · | → |
| Arroyo Seco Nr Pasadena Ca | 6 cfs | → |
| Santa Clara R Nr Piru Ca | 79 cfs | → |
| Rio Hondo Bl Whittier Narrows Dam Ca | 7 cfs | → |
| Calleguas C Nr Camarillo Ca | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Santa Ynez Canyon.
Campgrounds
- Musch Hike-In Camp
- Musch Ranch Hike-In
- Malibu Creek Group Walk-In
- Malibu Creek Family
- Malibu Creek - State Park
- Dockweiler Beach Rv
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters In The Santa Monica Mountains To Mouth At Pacific Ocean
- 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
- Site Of St Francis Dam Disaster To Seco Canyon At The Nf Boundary
- Lower Piru Creek (Oulet At Pyramid Reservoir) To Piru Reservoir
- Gaging Station Below Spillway Of Cogswell Dam (Ne 1/4, Se 1/4, Sec 19, T2n, R10w) To Confluence With Nf San Gabriel River (Sw 1/4.Sw 1/4, Sec 15, T2n, R9w)
- Green Valley At The Nf Boundary To Site Of St Francis Dam Disaster
Track Santa Ynez Canyon 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 Santa Ynez Canyon
Where does the data for Santa Ynez Canyon 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 Santa Ynez Canyon.