Sycamore dam
Sycamore
Sycamore is a vital earth dam located in Riverside, California, along the Sycamore Canyon river stream. Built in 1956 with a height of 63 feet and a hydraulic height of 53 feet, this dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction in the region. With a storage capacity of 1150 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 57 acres, Sycamore plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating potential hazards.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for safety, Sycamore dam has a high hazard potential but is assessed to be in satisfactory condition as of September 2017. The dam undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in January 2020. Despite its age, Sycamore continues to effectively serve its purpose and protect the surrounding area from flooding events, showcasing the importance of proper infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience.
As climate change impacts become more pronounced, structures like Sycamore play a crucial role in safeguarding communities from the increasing risks of flooding. With its strategic location and design, Sycamore remains a key asset in Riverside's flood risk reduction efforts. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for sustainable water resource management practices and the importance of investing in infrastructure that can withstand the challenges posed by a changing climate.
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.
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sycamore.
Boat launches
- Vacation Drive 28736, Canyon Lake
- Goetz Road Riverside County
- Pacific Crest Trail, Hesperia
- Eucalyptus Park Road, San Dimas
- Warren Road 37701, Temecula
Campgrounds
- Rancho Jurupa Park
- March Arb Military
- Lake Perris State Rec Area
- Prado Regional Park
- Glen Helen Regional Park
- Yucaipa Regional Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Below Deep Creek Lake To Below 2w01 Crossing
- San Mateo Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary With Camp Pendleton
- Middle Fork - Commanche Campsite To Middle Fork Trailhead
- Filaree Flat To Confluence With Bear Creek
- Big Bear Dam To Private Land In Sec 19, T1n, R1w
- Big Meadows To Filaree Flat
Track Sycamore 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 Sycamore
Where does the data for Sycamore 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 Sycamore.