San Vicente dam
San Vicente
San Vicente Dam, located in Lakeside, California, is a key structure managed by the local government for flood risk reduction and water supply purposes. Completed in 1943, this Roller-Compacted Concrete dam stands at a height of 338 feet and has a storage capacity of 245,000 acre-feet. The dam spans 1,425 feet and is situated on San Vicente Creek, within the San Diego County.
This dam is regulated by the Department of Water Resources and falls under the safety jurisdiction of the State of California. It has been deemed to have a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition, last assessed in September 2017. The dam is regularly inspected with a frequency of once a year, with the last inspection conducted in December 2020. Despite its age, San Vicente Dam continues to play a crucial role in managing the water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, San Vicente Dam serves as a prime example of infrastructure that is vital for both flood control and water supply management. Its strategic location, impressive height, and significant storage capacity make it a critical asset in ensuring water security and resilience in the face of changing climate conditions. With ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts, San Vicente Dam remains a cornerstone in the sustainable management of water resources in the region.
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 San Vicente -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Los Coches C Nr Lakeside Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Diego R A Mast Rd Nr Santee Ca | 7 cfs | → |
| Santa Maria C Nr Ramona Ca | · | → |
| Sweetwater R A Dehesa Ca | · | → |
| Los Penasquitos C Nr Poway Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Santa Ysabel C Nr Ramona Ca | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near San Vicente.
Boat launches
- Lake Miramar
- Lake Hodges Boat Launching Area
- Sutherland Dam Road 21568-21722, Ramona
- Mission Bay Drive San Diego
- Shore Drive San Diego
Campgrounds
- Lake Jennings
- Dos Picos
- Santee Lakes Regional Park
- Kumeyaay Lake Campground - Mission Trails Park
- Admiral Baker Military - San Diego Ns
- Sweetwater Summit
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Forest Boundary, Above Zoo Creek Below Spillway (S1/2, Sec 3, T11s, R2e) To La Jolla Indian Reservation Boundary (N1/2, Sec 31, T10s, R2e)
- Crouch Ranch To Morena Reservoir
- Confluence Of Fry And Iron Spring Creeks (E1/2, Sec 3, T10s,R1e To Se1/4 Sec 16, T10s, R2e
- Santa Margarita River
- Cañon La Presa (Valle Las Palma To Presa Rodriguez)
Track San Vicente 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 San Vicente
Where does the data for San Vicente 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 San Vicente.