Dry Canyon dam
Dry Canyon
Dry Canyon is a vital flood risk reduction structure located in Saugus, California, owned by the local government. Completed in 1912, this earth dam stands at a height of 66 feet and has a hydraulic height of 57.4 feet, providing essential protection to the surrounding area from potential flooding events. With a storage capacity of 1,140 acre-feet and a drainage area of 4.5 square miles, Dry Canyon plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources, Dry Canyon is regularly inspected and regulated to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of September 2017, this dam is equipped to handle emergency situations effectively. The presence of flood risk reduction as its primary purpose underscores the importance of this structure in safeguarding the community from the impacts of extreme weather events.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Dry Canyon presents an intriguing case study of a historic earth dam that continues to fulfill its intended function in a changing climate. As part of ongoing efforts to mitigate flood risks and ensure resilient water infrastructure, the maintenance and monitoring of structures like Dry Canyon are essential for sustainable water management practices in California and beyond.
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 Dry Canyon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Piru Creek Below Santa Felicia Dam Ca | 198 cfs | → |
| Santa Clara R Nr Piru Ca | 210 cfs | → |
| Piru Creek Above Lake Piru Ca | 34 cfs | → |
| Piru C Ab Frenchmans Flat Ca | 16 cfs | → |
| Big Tujunga C Bl Hansen Dam Ca | · | → |
| Los Angeles R A Sepulveda Dam Ca | 97 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dry Canyon.
Boat launches
- Lake Hughes Road Castaic
- Piru Canyon Road 4780, Castaic
- Interstate 5, Lebec
- Vacquero Boating And Picnic Site
- Vista Del Lago Road 21, Lebec
- Pyramid Lake Road, Lebec
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Site Of St Francis Dam Disaster To Seco Canyon At The Nf Boundary
- Green Valley At The Nf Boundary To Site Of St Francis Dam Disaster
- Lower Piru Creek (Oulet At Pyramid Reservoir) To Piru Reservoir
- Castaic To Pyramid Reservoir
- Confluence With Gold Hill Creek To Castaic
- Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Gold Hill Creek
Track Dry Canyon 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 Dry Canyon
Where does the data for Dry Canyon 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 Dry Canyon.