Tahchevah dam
Tahchevah
Tahchevah is a vital earth dam located in Palm Springs, California, designed primarily for debris control and flood risk reduction along Tachevah Creek. Completed in 1964, this structure stands at a height of 42 feet with a hydraulic height of 25.5 feet, providing a storage capacity of 650 acre-feet. Its high hazard potential is closely monitored through regular inspections, with its condition assessed as satisfactory as of September 2017.
Operated by the local government, Tahchevah plays a crucial role in managing water resources in Riverside County. Positioned within the Los Angeles District, this dam not only serves its primary purpose but also contributes to the overall flood risk reduction efforts in the region. With its location in the picturesque city of Palm Springs, Tahchevah stands as a testament to effective water resource management and infrastructure development in California.
The dam's presence underscores the importance of maintaining and regulating water infrastructure for climate resilience. With state oversight and permitting, Tahchevah continues to play a crucial role in safeguarding communities from flooding events. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of structures like Tahchevah is essential in promoting sustainable water management practices that benefit both the environment and local populations.
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 Tahchevah -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tahquitz C Nr Palm Springs Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Chino Cyn C Bl Tramway Nr Palm Springs Ca | · | → |
| Andreas C Nr Palm Springs Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Palm Cyn Wash Nr Cathedral City Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Murray Cyn C Nr Palm Springs Ca | · | → |
| Whitewater R A Windy Point Overflow Channel Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tahchevah.
Track Tahchevah 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 Tahchevah
Where does the data for Tahchevah 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 Tahchevah.