Little Mountain dam
Little Mountain
Little Mountain is a local government-owned earth dam nestled in San Bernardino, California, specifically designed for flood risk reduction along Devil Can Creek. The dam, completed in 1958, stands at a height of 28 feet with a hydraulic height of 17.4 feet and a length of 2100 feet. It boasts a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 23 acres, serving a drainage area of 5.22 square miles. Despite its critical purpose, Little Mountain poses a high hazard potential, although its condition assessment in 2017 deemed it satisfactory, ensuring its structural integrity in the face of potential emergencies.
Managed and regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, Little Mountain undergoes regular inspections every 1 year to monitor its performance and safety. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) was last revised in March 2021, showcasing a commitment to preparedness in case of unforeseen events. The surrounding area, represented by Congressman Pete Aguilar, relies on Little Mountain as a vital safeguard against flooding, highlighting the interconnected relationship between water resources, climate resilience, and community protection.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Little Mountain presents a fascinating case study of how infrastructure like dams play a crucial role in flood risk reduction and water management within local communities. Its historical significance, ongoing maintenance, and regulatory oversight underscore the importance of sustainable water resource practices in mitigating natural hazards and safeguarding the environment for future generations.
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 Little Mountain -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| E Twin C Nr Arrowhead Springs Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Waterman Cyn C Nr Arrowhead Spgs Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Devil Cyn C Nr San Bernardino Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Sand Canyon C Nr Highland Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Fontana Water Co Spill Ch From Afterbay Nr Fontana | 24 cfs | → |
| Warm C Nr San Bernardino Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Mountain.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Camp Seely
- Dogwood
- Dogwood Campground
- Dogwood Family Campground
- Glen Helen Regional Park
- Silverwood Lake State Rec Area
Fishing spots
- Secombe Lake
- Lake Gregory County Regional Park
- Lake Gregory
- Glen Helen Lakes
- Silverwood Lake
- Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area
Paddle runs
- Below Deep Creek Lake To Below 2w01 Crossing
- Below 2w01 Crossing To Mojave Reservoir
- Middle Fork - Commanche Campsite To Middle Fork Trailhead
- Nfsr 3n16 To Confluence With Deep Creek
- Filaree Flat To Confluence With Bear Creek
- Big Bear Dam To Private Land In Sec 19, T1n, R1w
Track Little Mountain 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 Little Mountain
Where does the data for Little Mountain 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 Little Mountain.