Pulgas Lake Dam dam
Pulgas Lake Dam
Pulgas Lake Dam, located in San Diego, California, is a vital water resource managed by the US Marine Corps for fire protection, stocking, and recreational purposes. Built in 1953, this earth dam stands at a height of 42 feet and has a hydraulic height of 44 feet, with a capacity to store 122 acre-feet of water. The dam also serves as a small fish pond and covers a surface area of 6.5 acres, providing ample opportunities for outdoor activities.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition is assessed as fair, with the last inspection conducted in June 2017. The dam has an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 20 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 1000 cubic feet per second. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam is regularly monitored and maintained by the US Navy, ensuring the safety and functionality of this important water infrastructure in the region.
In conclusion, Pulgas Lake Dam plays a crucial role in water management and conservation efforts in the area, providing essential services for both the military and local community. With its strategic location and multiple purposes, the dam serves as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate 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 Pulgas Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Las Flores C Nr Oceanside Ca | · | → |
| Oneill Lk Spill Ch Nr Fallbrook Ca | · | → |
| Oneill Lake Outlet Ch Nr Fallbrook Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Fallbrook C Nr Fallbrook Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Santa Margarita R A Ysidora Ca | · | → |
| San Onofre C A San Onofre Ca | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pulgas Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Goetz Road Riverside County
- Vacation Drive 28736, Canyon Lake
- Lake Hodges Boat Launching Area
- Warren Road 37701, Temecula
- Vail Lake Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Lake Oneill Military
- Bluffs - San Onofre State Beach
- San Onofre Beach Military
- Del Mar Beach Military
- San Mateo - San Onofre State Beach
- Oceanside Harbor
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Devil Canyon Tributary To San Mateo Creek
- Santa Margarita River
- San Mateo Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary With Camp Pendleton
- 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 Pulgas Lake Dam 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 Pulgas Lake Dam
Where does the data for Pulgas Lake Dam 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 Pulgas Lake Dam.