Carpinteria dam
Carpinteria
Located in Carpinteria, California, the Carpinteria Creek OS dam is a key water resource managed by the Bureau of Reclamation for irrigation purposes. Completed in 1953, this earth dam stands at a height of 31 feet and has a storage capacity of 40 acre-feet, serving the surrounding area with water supply and irrigation needs. With a spillway width of 14 feet and a high hazard potential, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in this region.
Managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, the Carpinteria dam is critical for maintaining water levels in the Carpinteria Creek OS and ensuring a reliable water supply for the area. The dam's structural height of 31 feet and maximum discharge of 11 cubic feet per second highlight its importance in regulating water flow and preventing potential flooding events. With a moderate risk assessment rating, efforts to manage and maintain the dam are ongoing to ensure the safety and sustainability of this vital water resource.
In collaboration with federal agencies, the Carpinteria dam stands as a testament to the importance of water management and conservation in California. With a primary purpose of irrigation, this earth dam plays a crucial role in supporting agriculture and sustaining the local ecosystem. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the Carpinteria dam remains a key asset in safeguarding the community against water scarcity and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
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 Carpinteria -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Carpinteria C Nr Carpinteria Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Matilija C Nr Res Nr Matilija Hot Springs Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Ventura R Nr Ventura | 33 cfs | → |
| Mission C A Rnp A Santa Barbara Ca | · | → |
| Mission C Nr Mission St Nr Santa Barbara Ca | · | → |
| Gibraltar Dam Div Weir A Gibraltar Dam Ca | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carpinteria.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Alder Creek Camp
- Upper Santa Ynez Camp
- Lake Casitas
- Middle Santa Ynez
- Middle Santa Ynez Campground
- P-Bar Flat Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Chorro Grande Canyon To Section Line Dividing Sec 1, T5n, R23w And Sec 6, T5n, T22w
- Section Line To Confluence With Rock Creek
- Headwaters, Upper Piru Creek To Wildernes Boundary
- Headwaters In The Santa Monica Mountains To Mouth At Pacific Ocean
- Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Gold Hill Creek
- Confluence With Gold Hill Creek To Castaic
Track Carpinteria 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 Carpinteria
Where does the data for Carpinteria 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 Carpinteria.