Vail dam
Vail
Vail Dam, located in Riverside, California, is a crucial part of the water supply infrastructure in the region. Completed in 1949, this arch-type dam stands at a height of 152 feet and has a storage capacity of 51,000 acre-feet, serving primarily for irrigation and water supply purposes. The dam overlooks the scenic Temecula Creek and has a drainage area of 318.4 square miles, providing essential water resources to the surrounding communities.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), Vail Dam is subject to regular state inspections, enforcement, and permitting to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of September 2017. With a recent inspection conducted in February 2021, efforts are ongoing to monitor and maintain the dam's structural integrity and emergency preparedness measures.
Vail Dam's significance goes beyond its functional role as a water storage facility; it also serves as a testament to the engineering expertise and dedication to water resource management. The dam's presence highlights the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of climate change challenges, ensuring the continued availability of water for agricultural, municipal, and environmental needs 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 Vail -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Temecula C Nr Aguanga Ca | · | → |
| Santa Margarita R Nr Temecula Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Santa Gertrudis C Nr Temecula Ca | · | → |
| Warm Springs C Nr Murrieta Ca | 5 cfs | → |
| Rainbow C Nr Fallbrook Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Santa Margarita R A Fpud Sump Nr Fallbrook Ca | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vail.
Boat launches
- Vail Lake Boat Ramp
- Warren Road 37701, Temecula
- Goetz Road Riverside County
- Anglers Landing, Mountain Center
- Vacation Drive 28736, Canyon Lake
- Highway 76 26439, Santa Ysabel
Campgrounds
- Dripping Springs
- Lake Skinner
- Doane Valley Camp Ground
- Fry Creek Campground
- Fry Creek
- Observatory Campground - Usfs
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Santa Margarita River
- Confluence Of Fry And Iron Spring Creeks (E1/2, Sec 3, T10s,R1e To Se1/4 Sec 16, T10s, R2e
- 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)
- Devil Canyon Tributary To San Mateo Creek
- San Mateo Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary With Camp Pendleton
Track Vail 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 Vail
Where does the data for Vail 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 Vail.