Corte Madera dam
Corte Madera
Corte Madera, a privately owned dam located in San Diego, California, serves as a crucial water supply structure along the Tr Pine Valley Cr river. Constructed in 1919, this earth dam stands at 16 feet high with a storage capacity of 325 acre-feet, supporting both water supply and recreational purposes. With a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of September 2017, Corte Madera is regulated and inspected by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program.
Situated in the city of Los Terrenitos, Corte Madera plays a vital role in managing water resources in the region, covering a drainage area of 2.5 square miles. Despite its age, the dam has maintained its structural integrity and safety standards, ensuring reliable water storage for the surrounding community. The dam has a surface area of 69 acres and a hydraulic height of 7.5 feet, contributing to the efficient management of water flow and storage within the reservoir.
With Juan Vargas serving as the congressional representative for the area, Corte Madera represents a key piece of infrastructure in California's water management system. The dam's last inspection in May 2020 confirmed its satisfactory condition, further solidifying its importance in providing water supply and recreational opportunities for the region. As climate change continues to impact water resources, structures like Corte Madera play a crucial role in ensuring sustainable and reliable access to water for communities in San Diego County.
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 Corte Madera -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sweetwater R Nr Descanso Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Campo C Nr Campo Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater R A Dehesa Ca | · | → |
| Los Coches C Nr Lakeside Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Jamul C Nr Jamul Ca | 9 cfs | → |
| San Diego R A Mast Rd Nr Santee Ca | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Corte Madera.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Corral Canyon Campground
- Corral Canyon
- Bobcat Meadow
- Bobcat Meadow Campground
- Boulder Oaks Campground
- Boulder Oaks
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Crouch Ranch To Morena Reservoir
- Cañon La Presa (Valle Las Palma To Presa Rodriguez)
- 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)
- Confluence Of Fry And Iron Spring Creeks (E1/2, Sec 3, T10s,R1e To Se1/4 Sec 16, T10s, R2e
More reservoirs
Track Corte Madera 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 Corte Madera
Where does the data for Corte Madera 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 Low 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 Corte Madera.