Prado Dam dam
Prado Dam
Prado Dam, also known as Prado Reservoir, is a federally-owned earth dam located on the Santa Ana River in Riverside, California. Completed in 1941, the dam stands at 106 feet high and has a storage capacity of 295,581 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with additional functions including recreation and water supply. The dam has a spillway width of 1000 feet and a hazard potential classified as high.
In a 2019 dam safety risk assessment, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) identified concerns with the performance of the spillway and potential for flood waters to flow between the dam embankment and spillway during a major flood event, posing a risk of dam failure and flooding downstream cities. To mitigate this risk, USACE is currently studying and planning modifications to increase floodwater and sediment storage capacity. Regular inspections, monitoring, and maintenance are conducted to ensure the dam's structural integrity and to decrease risk as low as reasonably practical.
USACE works closely with state and local emergency managers, conducts emergency exercises, and engages with communities to enhance flood preparedness. By closely monitoring weather forecasts, inspecting the dam, and implementing risk management measures, USACE aims to ensure public safety and reduce the risk of dam failure at Prado Dam.
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 Prado Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana R Bl Prado Dam Ca | 90 cfs | → |
| Temescal C Ab Main St A Corona Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Cucamonga C Nr Mira Loma Ca | 11 cfs | → |
| Chino C A Schaefer Avenue Nr Chino Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Antonio C A Riverside Dr Nr Chino Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Carbon C Bl Carbon Cyn Dam Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Prado Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Prado Dam
Where does the data for Prado 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 below 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.
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.