Senator Wash dam
Senator Wash
Senator Wash is a federal water supply reservoir located in Imperial, California, managed by the Bureau of Reclamation. Built in 1966, this earth dam stands at 94 feet tall, with a length of 2342 feet and a storage capacity of 17,766 acre-feet. The reservoir serves the primary purpose of water supply, with a normal storage volume of 9,144 acre-feet and a surface area of 470 acres.
The dam on Senator Wash is a vital component in managing water resources in the region, with a high hazard potential and moderate risk assessment. Despite not having a state regulatory agency overseeing its operations, the Bureau of Reclamation is responsible for inspections and regulatory compliance. The reservoir is located on the Senator Wash stream and serves as a critical infrastructure for water supply in the area, ensuring water availability for agricultural and municipal use.
With a spillway width of 20 feet and an uncontrolled spillway type, Senator Wash reservoir has undergone modifications in 1992 for hydraulic and other purposes. Emergency action plans are in place, with the last revision in August 2017. The risk management measures for the dam are being continuously assessed, highlighting the importance of this water resource infrastructure for climate resilience and sustainable water management in California.
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 Senator Wash -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| All-American Canal Nr. Imperial Dam | 8,130 cfs | → |
| Gila Gravity Main Canal At Imperial Dam | 1,180 cfs | → |
| Reservation Main Canal Near Yuma | 38 cfs | → |
| Titsink Canal Nr Yuma | · | → |
| Colorado River Below Laguna Dam | 458 cfs | → |
| North Gila Main Canal Nr Yuma | 51 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Senator Wash.
Boat launches
- Senator Wash Reservoir-Boat Launch
- Ferguson Road, Winterhaven
- Mittry Lake Boat Launch
- Interpark Road, Winterhaven
- Inter-Park Road, Winterhaven
- Levee Road 5625, Yuma
Track Senator Wash 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 Senator Wash
Where does the data for Senator Wash 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 Senator Wash.