Pigeon Pass dam
Pigeon Pass
Pigeon Pass, also known as "Poorman's Reservoir", is a local government-owned earth dam located in Sunnymead, Riverside County, California. Completed in 1958, this dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Pigeon Pass river or stream. With a height of 36 feet and a hydraulic height of 30 feet, Pigeon Pass dam has a storage capacity of 900 acre-feet and covers an area of 86 acres.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment as of September 2017, Pigeon Pass dam poses a high hazard potential due to its location and design. The dam has been regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program. The last inspection was conducted in January 2020, with a frequency of one inspection per year to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Residents and enthusiasts of water resources and climate in the area should be aware of Pigeon Pass dam and its role in mitigating flood risks in the region. With its long history of service since the late 1950s, this dam stands as a critical infrastructure for flood control and water management in Riverside County. Continuous monitoring and maintenance are essential to ensure the safety and effectiveness of Pigeon Pass in safeguarding the surrounding communities from 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 Pigeon Pass -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Timoteo C Nr Loma Linda Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Santa Ana R A E St Nr San Bernardino Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Warm C Nr San Bernardino Ca | · | → |
| Lytle C A Colton Ca | · | → |
| Perris Valley Storm Dr A Nuevo Rd Nr Perris Ca | · | → |
| Plunge C Nr East Highlands Ca | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pigeon Pass.
Boat launches
- Vacation Drive 28736, Canyon Lake
- Goetz Road Riverside County
- Pacific Crest Trail, Hesperia
- Warren Road 37701, Temecula
Campgrounds
- March Arb Military
- Lake Perris State Rec Area
- Rancho Jurupa Park
- Cherry Valley Lakes
- Yucaipa Regional Park
- Bogart Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Filaree Flat To Confluence With Bear Creek
- Below Deep Creek Lake To Below 2w01 Crossing
- Big Bear Dam To Private Land In Sec 19, T1n, R1w
- Big Meadows To Filaree Flat
- San Mateo Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary With Camp Pendleton
- Bluff Lake To Confluence With Bear Creek
Track Pigeon Pass 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 Pigeon Pass
Where does the data for Pigeon Pass 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 Pigeon Pass.