Lower Abbott Dam dam
Lower Abbott Dam
Lower Abbott Dam, located in Monterey, California, is a federally-owned structure managed by the Forest Service for recreational purposes. Built in 1938, this earth dam stands at a height of 13 feet with a length of 300 feet, providing a storage capacity of 110 acre-feet. The dam sits on the Abbott River and serves as a fish and wildlife pond in addition to offering recreational opportunities in the area.
Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, Lower Abbott Dam is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of its condition assessment. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a maximum discharge capacity of 30 cubic feet per second. While the risk assessment for the dam is moderate, there are no specific risk management measures or emergency action plans in place as of the most recent data update in May 2021.
Overall, Lower Abbott Dam presents an intriguing case study for water resource and climate enthusiasts, showcasing the intersection of federal ownership, recreational use, and potential risk management challenges associated with dams in the region. With its historical significance and ongoing maintenance considerations, this dam serves as a focal point for understanding the complexities of managing water resources in the beautiful landscape of 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 Lower Abbott Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Arroyo Seco Nr Soledad Ca | 24 cfs | → |
| Arroyo Seco Bl Reliz C Nr Soledad Ca | · | → |
| Salinas R A Soledad Ca | 209 cfs | → |
| Big Sur R Nr Big Sur Ca | 35 cfs | → |
| Carmel R A Robles Del Rio Ca | 26 cfs | → |
| Salinas R Nr Chualar Ca | 79 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Abbott Dam.
Campgrounds
- Arroyo Seco Campground
- Arroyo Seco
- Arroyo Seco Group Campground
- Rocky Creek Camp
- Horse Pasture (Adobe) Primitive Camp
- Jerky Camp
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Ventana Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary
- 0.25 Miles Downstream Of The Impoundment Of Sportsman's Lodge To Ventana Wilderness Boundary
- 0.25 Milesupstram Of The Impoundment At Sportsman's Lodge To 0.25 Miles Downstream Of The Impoundment At Sportsman's Lodge
- Headwaters To Sportsman's Club
- Headwaters North Fork Little Sur To Boy Scout Camp
- Boy Scout Camp To Confluence With Mainstem Little Sur
More reservoirs
Track Lower Abbott 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 Lower Abbott Dam
Where does the data for Lower Abbott 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 Significant 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 Lower Abbott Dam.