West Side Detention Dike No. 2 dam
West Side Detention Dike No. 2
West Side Detention Dike No. 2, located in Riverside, California, is a crucial federal structure designed for flood risk reduction along the Whitewater River. Completed in 1968 by the Bureau of Reclamation, this earth dam stands at a height of 37 feet with a hydraulic height of 22 feet. With a storage capacity of 630 acre-feet, the dam plays a significant role in mitigating potential flood hazards in the region.
Managed and funded by the Bureau of Reclamation, West Side Detention Dike No. 2 is equipped with a controlled spillway and associated structures to ensure efficient water flow management during extreme events. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is subject to regular inspections to assess its condition and ensure its continued effectiveness in safeguarding the surrounding area from flooding risks. With a very high risk assessment ranking of 1, the dam remains a critical element in the region's overall water resource and climate resilience strategy.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the significance of West Side Detention Dike No. 2 lies in its role as a key infrastructure for flood risk reduction in Riverside, California. Its construction and maintenance by the Bureau of Reclamation exemplify the ongoing efforts to enhance water management practices and ensure the safety of local communities in the face of potential climate-related challenges. The dam's strategic location along the Whitewater River underscores its vital contribution to the broader ecosystem's sustainability and resilience in the region.
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 West Side Detention Dike No. 2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deep C Nr Palm Desert Ca | · | → |
| Whitewater R A Indio Ca | · | → |
| Whitewater R A Rancho Mirage Ca | · | → |
| Whitewater R Nr Mecca | 59 cfs | → |
| Palm Cyn Wash Nr Cathedral City Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Palm Cyn C Nr Palm Springs Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Side Detention Dike No. 2.
Campgrounds
- Lake Cahuilla County Park
- Thousand Trails
- Pinyon Flat
- Pinyon Flat Campground
- Ribbonwood Equestrian
- Ribbonwood Equestrian Campground
Track West Side Detention Dike No. 2 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 West Side Detention Dike No. 2
Where does the data for West Side Detention Dike No. 2 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 West Side Detention Dike No. 2.