Mojave River Dam dam
Mojave River Dam
The Mojave River Dam, located in Victorville, California, was completed in 1971 and serves as a crucial flood risk reduction structure along the West Fork Mojave River. Owned and operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam has a height of 200 feet and a storage capacity of 179,400 acre-feet. Despite its important role in reducing flooding to downstream communities, a 2018 risk assessment classified the dam as "High" risk due to the potential for significant rainfall events to overwhelm the spillway and cause downstream flooding.
In the event of an extreme rainfall event, the dam could face erosion and breach, leading to devastating flooding in communities downstream such as Hesperia, Apple Valley, and Victorville. To manage this risk, the US Army Corps of Engineers is closely monitoring weather forecasts, conducting emergency exercises, and implementing temporary measures to reduce the risk of water flowing over the dam. Additionally, efforts are underway to engage with local communities and schools to enhance flood preparedness and response measures in the event of a breach or significant flooding event.
With the potential for rapid rise in water levels due to local topography and intense storms in the region, it is crucial for residents and authorities in downstream communities to be aware of the risks associated with the Mojave River Dam and take proactive measures for flood preparedness. By working together with federal, state, and local partners, the US Army Corps of Engineers is striving to ensure the safety and resilience of communities along the Mojave River in the face of potential flood events.
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 Mojave River Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deep C Nr Hesperia Ca | 15 cfs | → |
| Wf Mojave R Ab Mojave R Forks Res Nr Hesperia Ca | 9 cfs | → |
| Waterman Cyn C Nr Arrowhead Spgs Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Devil Cyn C Nr San Bernardino Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| E Twin C Nr Arrowhead Springs Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Sand Canyon C Nr Highland Ca | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mojave River Dam.
⛺ Campgrounds
- Mojave River Forks Regional Park
- Hesperia Lake Park
- North Shore Family Campground
- North Shore Campground
- Silverwood Lake State Rec Area
- Camp Seely
🎣 Fishing spots
- Silverwood Lake
- Lake Gregory
- Lake Gregory County Regional Park
- Deep Creek
- Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area
- Green Valley Lake
Track Mojave River Dam 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 Mojave River Dam
Where does the data for Mojave River Dam 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 Mojave River Dam.