Walnut Canyon dam
Walnut Canyon
Walnut Canyon in Orange, California, is a local government-owned dam on the Walnut Canyon river stream, completed in 1968 for the primary purpose of water supply. With a height of 187 feet and a hydraulic height of 181 feet, this earth dam has a storage capacity of 2,570 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 47 acres. The dam is regulated and inspected by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment, Walnut Canyon Dam presents a high hazard potential due to its location and the amount of water it can store. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last one taking place in May 2020, and emergency action plans are in place to address any potential risks. The dam is situated in a picturesque setting, providing both essential water resources for the local community and a habitat for various wildlife species. Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find Walnut Canyon a fascinating example of infrastructure designed to meet the water supply needs of the region while also highlighting the importance of proper dam management and maintenance in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Walnut Canyon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana R Bl Prado Dam Ca | 115 cfs | → |
| Carbon C Bl Carbon Cyn Dam Ca | · | → |
| Fullerton C Bl Fullerton Dam Nr Brea Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Santiago C A Santa Ana Ca | · | → |
| Brea C Bl Brea Dam Nr Fullerton Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Santa Ana R A Santa Ana Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Walnut Canyon.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Chino Hills - State Park
- Prado Regional Park
- Oso Lake Scout Camp
- Oneill Regional Park
- Bohelli Regional Park
- Deer Canyon Campground
Fishing spots
- Santa Ana River Lakes
- Irvine Lake (Santiago Res)
- Anaheim Lake
- Tri-City Park Lake
- Prado Regional Park, El Lake
- Laguna Lake
Paddle runs
- San Mateo Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary With Camp Pendleton
- Laurel Gulch To Confluence With Mineo Canyon (Se 1/4, Sw 1/4, 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)
- 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)
- Devil Canyon Tributary To San Mateo Creek
Track Walnut Canyon 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 Walnut Canyon
Where does the data for Walnut Canyon 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 Walnut Canyon.