Rancho Cielito dam
Rancho Cielito
Rancho Cielito, also known as Lake Los Serranos, is a privately owned dam located in San Bernardino, California, specifically in the city of Los Serranos. Built in 1912, this earth dam stands at a height of 9 feet and has a hydraulic height of 6.9 feet. Its primary purpose is for water supply, serving irrigation and domestic water needs in the area. The dam has a storage capacity of 110 acre-feet and a surface area of 25 acres, with a drainage area of 0.8 square miles.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, Rancho Cielito is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state authorities. Its last inspection took place in March 2021, with a hazard potential rated as high but a satisfactory condition assessment as of September 2017. Despite being privately owned, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience in the region, showcasing the importance of maintaining and monitoring such structures for the safety and security of communities dependent on them for water supply.
With a rich history dating back over a century, Rancho Cielito continues to be a vital component of the local water infrastructure, ensuring a reliable water supply for agricultural and residential purposes in the surrounding area. As climate change impacts water resources, dams like Rancho Cielito play a critical role in water management and flood control. By adhering to state regulations and regular inspections, this dam remains a key asset in safeguarding against potential hazards and supporting sustainable water practices for the community it serves.
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 Rancho Cielito -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chino C A Schaefer Avenue Nr Chino Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| San Antonio C A Riverside Dr Nr Chino Ca | · | → |
| Cucamonga C Nr Mira Loma Ca | 19 cfs | → |
| Santa Ana R Bl Prado Dam Ca | 114 cfs | → |
| Carbon C Bl Carbon Cyn Dam Ca | · | → |
| Temescal C Ab Main St A Corona Ca | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rancho Cielito.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Prado Regional Park
- Chino Hills - State Park
- Bohelli Regional Park
- Big Dalton Campground
- Rancho Jurupa Park
- Dad's Camping
Fishing spots
- Prado Regional Park, El Lake
- Puddingstone Lake
- Puddingstone Reservoir
- Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park Lake
- Tri-City Park Lake
- Santa Ana River Lakes
Paddle runs
- Laurel Gulch To Confluence With Mineo Canyon (Se 1/4, Sw 1/4, Sec 17, T2n, R8w)
- Middle Fork - Commanche Campsite To Middle Fork Trailhead
- North Fork - Confluence Of Soldier And Coldbrook Creeks (Se1/4,Sw1/4, Sec) 5, T2n,,R9w To Conflluence With West Fork Of San Gabriel (Sw 1/4,Sw1/4, Sec 17, T2n, R8w)
- 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)
- East Fork - Confluence Of Vincent Gulch And Prairie Fork (Nw 1/4, Sw 1/4 Sec 16 ) To Laurel Gulch (Nw 1/4, Sw 1/4, Sec 17, T2n, R8w)
- Mainstream - Headwaters To Confluence With Cooper Canyon
Track Rancho Cielito 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 Rancho Cielito
Where does the data for Rancho Cielito 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 Rancho Cielito.