Hicks Canyon Retention Basin dam
Hicks Canyon Retention Basin
Located in Irvine, California, the Hicks Canyon Retention Basin serves as a vital infrastructure for debris control and flood risk reduction along the Hicks Can Wash. Built in 1997, this earth dam stands at 60 feet in height with a storage capacity of 110 acre-feet, covering an area of 8 acres and draining a watershed of 0.83 square miles. The basin's primary purpose is to mitigate the impact of debris and reduce the risk of flooding in the surrounding area.
Managed by the local government, the retention basin undergoes regular inspections and maintenance, with its condition assessed as satisfactory and a low hazard potential. This structure plays a crucial role in safeguarding the community from potential water-related disasters, with state regulations and oversight ensuring its operational integrity. With State jurisdiction and permitting in place, the Hicks Canyon Retention Basin stands as a testament to proactive water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
As a key component of the flood control system in Orange County, the Hicks Canyon Retention Basin not only protects the city of Irvine but also contributes to overall water resource sustainability in the area. With a strategic location and efficient design, this infrastructure exemplifies the intersection of engineering innovation and environmental stewardship, highlighting the importance of proactive measures in adapting to the challenges of a changing climate. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Hicks Canyon Retention Basin serves as a tangible example of effective infrastructure investment and management in the face of increasing environmental 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 Hicks Canyon Retention Basin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Agua Chinon Wash Nr Irvine Ca | · | → |
| Sand Cyn C A Irvine Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Santiago C A Santa Ana Ca | · | → |
| Bonita C A Irvine Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Santa Ana R Bl Prado Dam Ca | 115 cfs | → |
| Santa Ana R A Santa Ana Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hicks Canyon Retention Basin.
Boat launches
- Granada Launch Ramp - Long Beach
- Eucalyptus Park Road, San Dimas
- Vacation Drive 28736, Canyon Lake
- Goetz Road Riverside County
Campgrounds
- Oso Lake Scout Camp
- Oneill Regional Park
- Deer Canyon Campground
- Upper Moro Campground
- Lower Moro Campground
- Crystal Cove State Park - Moro Campground
Fishing spots
- Irvine Lake (Santiago Res)
- Santa Ana River Lakes
- Anaheim Lake
- Laguna Niguel Lake
- Tri-City Park Lake
- Prado Regional Park, El Lake
Paddle runs
- San Mateo Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary With Camp Pendleton
- Devil Canyon Tributary To San Mateo Creek
- Laurel Gulch To Confluence With Mineo Canyon (Se 1/4, Sw 1/4, Sec 17, T2n, R8w)
- Santa Margarita River
- Middle Fork - Commanche Campsite To Middle Fork Trailhead
Track Hicks Canyon Retention 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 Hicks Canyon Retention Basin
Where does the data for Hicks Canyon Retention 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 Low 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 Hicks Canyon Retention Basin.