Santa Fe Dam dam
Santa Fe Dam
Santa Fe Dam, also known as Santa Fe Reservoir, is a federal-owned earth dam located in El Monte, California. Completed in 1949, the dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with additional benefits including recreation and water supply. With a height of 92 feet and a maximum storage capacity of 45,409 acre-feet, Santa Fe Dam plays a crucial role in managing the San Gabriel River's flow and protecting downstream communities.
A risk assessment conducted in 2016 identified Santa Fe Dam as having a moderate risk level, particularly due to potential internal erosion of the embankment and impacts from earthquake events. The downstream cities of Irwindale, Baldwin Park, El Monte, and South El Monte, with a combined population of over 100,000, face significant economic and life-threatening consequences in the event of a dam failure. To mitigate these risks, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) actively engages with state and local emergency managers, conducts emergency exercises, closely monitors the dam's condition, and collaborates with local communities to enhance emergency preparedness and communication.
Through ongoing risk management measures, including regular inspections, monitoring, maintenance, and stakeholder engagement, USACE is dedicated to ensuring the safety and resilience of Santa Fe Dam. By working proactively to address identified risks and enhancing emergency response capabilities, the agency aims to safeguard communities and infrastructure downstream while maintaining the dam's vital flood protection function.
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 Santa Fe Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Gabriel R Bl Santa Fe Dam Nr Baldwin Pk Ca | 148 cfs | → |
| San Gabriel R Ab Whittier Narrows Dam Ca | 30 cfs | → |
| Rio Hondo Ab Whittier Narrows Dam Ca | 71 cfs | → |
| Rio Hondo Bl Whittier Narrows Dam Ca | 9 cfs | → |
| Arroyo Seco Nr Pasadena Ca | 6 cfs | → |
| San Antonio C A Riverside Dr Nr Chino Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Santa Fe Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Gaging Station Below Spillway Of Cogswell Dam (Ne 1/4, Se 1/4, Sec 19, T2n, R10w) To Confluence With Nf San Gabriel River (Sw 1/4.Sw 1/4, Sec 15, T2n, R9w)
- West Fork - Headwaters (Se 1/4, Ne 1/4, Sec 14, T2n, R12w) To Cogswell Reservoir (Ne 1/4, Sw 1/4, Sec 24, T2n, R9w
- North Fork - Confluence Of Soldier And Coldbrook Creeks (Se1/4,Sw1/4, Sec) 5, T2n,,R9w To Conflluence With West Fork Of San Gabriel (Sw 1/4,Sw1/4, Sec 17, T2n, R8w)
- Laurel Gulch To Confluence With Mineo Canyon (Se 1/4, Sw 1/4, Sec 17, T2n, R8w)
- Cooper Canyon- Near State Highway 2 (Sw 1/4, Ne 1/4, Sec 16, T3n, R10w To Confluence With Little Rock Creek
- Mainstream - Confluence With Cooper Canyon To Confluence Wit South Fork Little Rock Creek
Track Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe Dam
Where does the data for Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe Dam.