Mathews dam
Mathews
Mathews is a crucial water supply infrastructure located in Corona, California, along the Tr Cajalco Creek. Built in 1938, this earth dam stands at a height of 264 feet and has a storage capacity of 182,000 acre-feet. With a surface area of 2,750 acres and a drainage area of 40 square miles, Mathews plays a vital role in providing water for irrigation and domestic use in Riverside County.
Managed by a public utility and regulated by the California Department of Water Resources and Safety of Dams, Mathews is subject to regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition was assessed as satisfactory during its last inspection in September 2017. In the event of an emergency, an emergency action plan is in place, although it was last revised in January 2018.
Mathews serves as a critical component of California's water infrastructure, supporting various purposes such as irrigation and water supply. As climate change continues to impact water resources in the region, the maintenance and monitoring of dams like Mathews are essential to ensure a reliable and sustainable water supply for local communities.
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 Mathews -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Temescal C A Corona Lk Nr Corona Ca | · | → |
| Temescal C Ab Main St A Corona Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Santa Ana R Bl Prado Dam Ca | 114 cfs | → |
| Cucamonga C Nr Mira Loma Ca | 19 cfs | → |
| San Jacinto R Nr Sun City Ca | · | → |
| Perris Valley Storm Dr A Nuevo Rd Nr Perris Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mathews.
Boat launches
- Vacation Drive 28736, Canyon Lake
- Goetz Road Riverside County
- Eucalyptus Park Road, San Dimas
- Warren Road 37701, Temecula
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Corona Lake
- Lake Evans
- Prado Regional Park, El Lake
- Lake Elsinore
- Elsinore Lake
- Irvine Lake (Santiago Res)
Paddle runs
- San Mateo Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary With Camp Pendleton
- Devil Canyon Tributary To San Mateo Creek
- Middle Fork - Commanche Campsite To Middle Fork Trailhead
- Santa Margarita River
- Below Deep Creek Lake To Below 2w01 Crossing
More reservoirs
Track Mathews 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 Mathews
Where does the data for Mathews 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 Mathews.