Cactus Basin #3 dam
Cactus Basin #3
Cactus Basin #3, located in San Bernardino, California, is a crucial water resource infrastructure managed by the local government for flood risk reduction along the Rialto Channel. This earth dam, completed in 2017, stands at a height of 37.5 feet and has a storage capacity of 528.4 acre-feet, serving multiple purposes including water supply and flood risk reduction. The dam has a hydraulic height of 29.5 feet and a length of 4150 feet, with a surface area of 23.9 acres.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment as of September 2017, Cactus Basin #3 poses a high hazard potential, emphasizing the importance of regular inspections and enforcement of safety measures. The dam falls under state jurisdiction and is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for safety compliance. With the last inspection conducted in December 2019 and an emergency action plan (EAP) last revised in February 2021, Cactus Basin #3 remains a significant asset in mitigating flood risks in the region, highlighting the critical role of water resource management in climate resilience efforts.
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 Cactus Basin #3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fontana Water Co Spill Ch From Afterbay Nr Fontana | 18 cfs | → |
| Lytle C A Colton Ca | · | → |
| Warm C Nr San Bernardino Ca | · | → |
| Santa Ana R A E St Nr San Bernardino Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Fontana Uwc Surface Div Weir 2 Nr Fontana Ca | 16 cfs | → |
| Fontana Ph Forebay Spillway Nr Fontana Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cactus Basin #3.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Glen Helen Regional Park
- Rancho Jurupa Park
- Camp Seely
- Bonita Ranch Campground
- Applewhite
- Applewhite Campground
Fishing spots
- Glen Helen Lakes
- Secombe Lake
- Lake Evans
- Lake Gregory County Regional Park
- Lake Gregory
- Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area
Paddle runs
- Middle Fork - Commanche Campsite To Middle Fork Trailhead
- Below Deep Creek Lake To Below 2w01 Crossing
- Below 2w01 Crossing To Mojave Reservoir
- Filaree Flat To Confluence With Bear Creek
- Big Bear Dam To Private Land In Sec 19, T1n, R1w
- Nfsr 3n16 To Confluence With Deep Creek
Track Cactus Basin #3 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 Cactus Basin #3
Where does the data for Cactus Basin #3 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 Cactus Basin #3.