San Justo dam
San Justo
San Justo is a federal-owned irrigation dam located in Pacines, California, along the San Benito River. Built in 1987, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 150.9 feet and serves the primary purpose of irrigation, with a storage capacity of 11,693 acre-feet. Managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, San Justo plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region, providing water for agricultural activities and supporting the local ecosystem.
With a high hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, San Justo has a spillway width of 508 feet and is equipped with uncontrolled spillways. The dam is regularly inspected by the Bureau of Reclamation to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite its age, the condition assessment of San Justo is currently listed as "Not Available", highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate any potential risks associated with the dam.
San Justo's presence along the San Benito River contributes to the water security and climate resilience of the surrounding area. As a vital infrastructure for irrigation, this dam underscores the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of changing climate conditions. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find San Justo to be a fascinating example of how human-made structures can both harness and protect precious water resources in a dynamic environment.
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 San Justo -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Benito R A Hwy 156 Nr Hollister Ca | · | → |
| Tres Pinos C Nr Tres Pinos Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Gabilan C Nr Salinas Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Pajaro R A Chittenden Ca | 48 cfs | → |
| Pacheco C Nr Dunneville Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Llagas C Nr Gilroy | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near San Justo.
⚓ Boat launches
- Kirby Park
- Coyote Lake Road 10700-12746, Gilroy
- Pinto Lake City Park
- Rountree Lane Santa Cruz County
- Uvas Road 15000-15208, Morgan Hill
- Basalt Road, Los Banos
⛺ Campgrounds
More campgrounds →🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- Gold Creek To Three Pools (Opal Creek Run)
- Headwaters North Fork Little Sur To Boy Scout Camp
- Boy Scout Camp To Confluence With Mainstem Little Sur
- Ventana Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary
- Headwaters South Fork Little Sur To Confluence With Mainstem Little Sur
- 0.25 Miles Downstream Of The Impoundment Of Sportsman's Lodge To Ventana Wilderness Boundary
Track San Justo 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 San Justo
Where does the data for San Justo 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 San Justo.