Berrenda Mesa dam
Berrenda Mesa
Berrenda Mesa, located in Devils Den, Kern County, California, is a key water supply infrastructure managed by a public utility. This earth dam, completed in 1967, stands at a height of 22 feet and has a hydraulic height of 16.75 feet, with a storage capacity of 180 acre-feet. Serving the primary purpose of water supply for irrigation, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. It is regulated by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
With a significant hazard potential, Berrenda Mesa Dam has been assessed as being in satisfactory condition as of September 2017. The dam's inspection frequency is set at one year, with the most recent inspection conducted in March 2021. Despite its age, the dam continues to meet safety standards and serves as a vital component of the water infrastructure in the area. As climate change impacts water resources, the maintenance and monitoring of structures like Berrenda Mesa become increasingly important in ensuring water security for the community.
As a part of the Sacramento District, Berrenda Mesa Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region, with a particular focus on water supply for irrigation purposes. With its strategic location and storage capacity, this earth dam serves as a critical piece of infrastructure that requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance to uphold its functionality and safety standards. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of structures like Berrenda Mesa in the context of changing climate patterns and water availability is vital for sustainable water management practices 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 Berrenda Mesa -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Estrella R Nr Estrella Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Salinas R A Paso Robles Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Lopez C Nr Arroyo Grande Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Los Gatos C Ab Nunez Cyn Nr Coalinga Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Nacimiento R Bl Nacimiento Dam Nr Bradley Ca | 261 cfs | → |
| Huasna R Nr Arroyo Grande Ca | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Berrenda Mesa.
Track Berrenda Mesa 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 Berrenda Mesa
Where does the data for Berrenda Mesa 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 Significant 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 Berrenda Mesa.