Agua Tibia dam
Agua Tibia
Agua Tibia, located in Pala, California, is a privately owned dam that serves as a crucial water supply infrastructure in San Diego County. Built in 1947, this earth dam stands at 35 feet tall and spans 1053 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 62 acre-feet. Primarily used for irrigation and water supply purposes, Agua Tibia plays a vital role in supporting the region's agricultural and residential water needs.
Managed by the state regulatory agency DWR, Safety of Dams, Agua Tibia is subject to regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and operational safety. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the dam undergoes frequent evaluations to mitigate any potential risks and ensure its continued functionality. With its location offstream and a drainage area of 4 square miles, Agua Tibia is a key component in the water resource management of the area, contributing to the overall water security and climate resilience of the region.
As a critical piece of infrastructure in the Los Angeles District, Agua Tibia serves as a testament to the importance of water resource management and climate adaptation efforts. With its historical significance and ongoing regulatory oversight, this dam stands as a symbol of the careful balance between water supply needs and environmental conservation in the face of changing climate conditions. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the role of Agua Tibia in ensuring the sustainability and resilience of water systems in California.
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 Agua Tibia -- 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 | → |
| Rainbow C Nr Fallbrook Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Santa Margarita R A Fpud Sump Nr Fallbrook Ca | 9 cfs | → |
| Santa Gertrudis C Nr Temecula Ca | · | → |
| Sandia C Nr Fallbrook Ca | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Agua Tibia.
Boat launches
- Vail Lake Boat Ramp
- Warren Road 37701, Temecula
- Highway 76 26439, Santa Ysabel
- Lake Hodges Boat Launching Area
- Sutherland Dam Road 21568-21722, Ramona
- Goetz Road Riverside County
Campgrounds
- Doane Valley Camp Ground
- Dripping Springs
- Fry Creek Campground
- Broken Rock Ranch
- Fry Creek
- Observatory Campground - Usfs
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Confluence Of Fry And Iron Spring Creeks (E1/2, Sec 3, T10s,R1e To Se1/4 Sec 16, T10s, R2e
- Santa Margarita River
- 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 Agua Tibia 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 Agua Tibia
Where does the data for Agua Tibia 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 Agua Tibia.