Sawpit Debris Basin dam
Sawpit Debris Basin
Sawpit Debris Basin, located in Monrovia, California, serves as a vital structure for debris control along Sawpit Wash. Built in 1955, this earth dam stands at 82 feet in height and spans 520 feet in length, providing storage of up to 152 acre-feet of water. The primary purpose of the basin is to mitigate flood risk, protect water supply, and regulate debris flow in the region.
Managed by local government authorities and regulated by the California Department of Water Resources, Sawpit Debris Basin is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. With a hazard potential rated as high, the basin has been assessed to be in fair condition as of September 2017. Despite its age, the dam continues to play a crucial role in safeguarding the surrounding community from potential natural disasters.
As a key component of the flood risk reduction infrastructure in Los Angeles County, Sawpit Debris Basin exemplifies the importance of proactive maintenance and monitoring practices in ensuring the safety and resilience of water resource systems. With its strategic location and design, the basin serves as a critical asset in the region's efforts to manage water flow, protect infrastructure, and promote environmental sustainability in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Sawpit Debris Basin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Gabriel R Bl Santa Fe Dam Nr Baldwin Pk Ca | 139 cfs | → |
| Rio Hondo Ab Whittier Narrows Dam Ca | 77 cfs | → |
| San Gabriel R Ab Whittier Narrows Dam Ca | 5 cfs | → |
| Arroyo Seco Nr Pasadena Ca | 6 cfs | → |
| Rio Hondo Bl Whittier Narrows Dam Ca | 7 cfs | → |
| San Antonio C A Riverside Dr Nr Chino Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sawpit Debris Basin.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Spring Camp
- Spring Camp Campground
- Hoegee's Camp
- Dad's Camping
- Glenn Camp
- Glenn Camp Campground (Hike Or Bike In 7 Miles)
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- 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)
- West Fork - Headwaters (Se 1/4, Ne 1/4, Sec 14, T2n, R12w) To Cogswell Reservoir (Ne 1/4, Sw 1/4, Sec 24, T2n, R9w
- 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)
- Cooper Canyon- Near State Highway 2 (Sw 1/4, Ne 1/4, Sec 16, T3n, R10w To Confluence With Little Rock Creek
- Mainstream - Confluence With Cooper Canyon To Confluence Wit South Fork Little Rock Creek
- Laurel Gulch To Confluence With Mineo Canyon (Se 1/4, Sw 1/4, Sec 17, T2n, R8w)
Track Sawpit Debris Basin 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 Sawpit Debris Basin
Where does the data for Sawpit Debris Basin 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 Sawpit Debris Basin.