Mockingbird Canyon dam
Mockingbird Canyon
Mockingbird Canyon, also known as Mockingbird Reservoir, is a vital water resource located in Riverside, California. Owned by the local government, this dam serves the primary purpose of water supply for irrigation and other uses. Completed in 1914, Mockingbird Canyon Dam is an earth-type structure standing at a height of 74 feet with a hydraulic height of 55 feet. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 1250 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 64 acres, with a drainage area of 13.13 square miles.
The dam, situated on Mockingbird Can, is regulated by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program in California. Its last inspection in March 2021 deemed its condition satisfactory with a high hazard potential. The dam has a history of enforcement, inspection, and permitting by state agencies, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations. With its important role in water supply and irrigation, Mockingbird Canyon Dam continues to play a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite being over a century old, Mockingbird Canyon Dam remains a key infrastructure for water management in Riverside. With its high hazard potential, the dam undergoes regular inspections and assessments to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The local government, in partnership with state agencies, continues to monitor and enforce regulations to mitigate any risks associated with the dam. As climate change impacts water resources, Mockingbird Canyon Dam serves as a crucial asset in maintaining a reliable water supply for the community and surrounding areas.
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 Mockingbird Canyon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Temescal C Ab Main St A Corona Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Temescal C A Corona Lk Nr Corona Ca | · | → |
| Cucamonga C Nr Mira Loma Ca | 19 cfs | → |
| Santa Ana R Bl Prado Dam Ca | 114 cfs | → |
| Santa Ana R A E St Nr San Bernardino Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| 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 Mockingbird Canyon.
Boat launches
- Vacation Drive 28736, Canyon Lake
- Goetz Road Riverside County
- Eucalyptus Park Road, San Dimas
- Pacific Crest Trail, Hesperia
- Warren Road 37701, Temecula
Campgrounds
- Rancho Jurupa Park
- March Arb Military
- Prado Regional Park
- Lake Perris State Rec Area
- Lake Elsinore
- El Cariso Campground
Fishing spots
- Lake Evans
- Corona Lake
- Perris Lake
- Prado Regional Park, El Lake
- Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park Lake
- Secombe Lake
Paddle runs
- San Mateo Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary With Camp Pendleton
- Middle Fork - Commanche Campsite To Middle Fork Trailhead
- Below Deep Creek Lake To Below 2w01 Crossing
- Filaree Flat To Confluence With Bear Creek
- Big Bear Dam To Private Land In Sec 19, T1n, R1w
- Devil Canyon Tributary To San Mateo Creek
More reservoirs
Track Mockingbird 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 Mockingbird Canyon
Where does the data for Mockingbird 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 Mockingbird Canyon.