Trampas Canyon dam
Trampas Canyon
Trampas Canyon, located in Orange County, California, is a vital flood risk reduction structure built in 1975 to protect the surrounding area from potential flooding events. Owned and regulated by the state with oversight from the Department of Water Resources and Safety of Dams, this earth dam stands at a height of 183 feet with a hydraulic height of 178 feet, serving a primary purpose of flood risk reduction.
With a storage capacity of 5,700 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.91 square miles, Trampas Canyon dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam has been assessed as satisfactory in condition, with regular inspections conducted to ensure its safety and functionality. The structure's design and construction reflect a commitment to water supply management, tailings storage, and flood risk mitigation, highlighting its importance in climate resilience and water resource management efforts.
As a public utility infrastructure, Trampas Canyon dam underscores the intersection of water resource management and climate adaptation, embodying the necessity of sustainable infrastructure to address the challenges posed by changing environmental conditions. With its strategic location in San Juan Capistrano and efficient flood risk reduction capabilities, this dam stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to safeguard communities and water resources in the face of climate variability and increasing water-related risks.
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 Trampas Canyon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Arroyo Trabuco A San Juan Capistrano Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Cristianitos C Ab San Mateo C Nr San Clemente Ca | · | → |
| San Mateo C Nr San Clemente Ca | 166 cfs | → |
| San Onofre C A San Onofre Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Agua Chinon Wash Nr Irvine Ca | · | → |
| Las Flores C Nr Oceanside Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Trampas Canyon.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Live Oak - Caspers Wilderness Co Park
- Caspers Wilderness Park
- Ortega Flats Campground
- San Juan Meadow Group Area
- Ortega Flats - Caspers Wilderness Co Park
- Starr Mesa Equestrian Campground
Fishing spots
- Laguna Niguel Lake
- Elsinore Lake
- Lake Elsinore
- Corona Lake
- Irvine Lake (Santiago Res)
- Encino Public Fishing Area
Paddle runs
- Devil Canyon Tributary To San Mateo Creek
- San Mateo Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary With Camp Pendleton
- Santa Margarita River
- Confluence Of Fry And Iron Spring Creeks (E1/2, Sec 3, T10s,R1e To Se1/4 Sec 16, T10s, R2e
- 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)
Track Trampas 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 Trampas Canyon
Where does the data for Trampas 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 Trampas Canyon.