Thompson Creek dam
Thompson Creek
Thompson Creek, a crucial water resource in Los Angeles, California, is a local government-owned dam constructed in 1928 for flood risk reduction along the Thompson Creek river. With a height of 66 feet and a storage capacity of 543 acre-feet, this earth dam plays a significant role in managing water levels and protecting the surrounding areas from potential flooding. Located in Claremont, the dam is regulated and inspected by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) for its safety and operational efficiency.
Despite its age, Thompson Creek Dam has been assessed as satisfactory in condition, with a high hazard potential due to its critical role in flood risk management. The dam's satisfactory condition reflects ongoing maintenance and regulation by state agencies, ensuring its reliability in safeguarding the local community from potential water-related disasters. As a key component in water supply and flood control, Thompson Creek Dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management in Southern California, underlining the importance of infrastructure in mitigating the impacts of climate change on water resources.
Thompson Creek Dam's strategic location and purpose make it a vital asset in the region's water management infrastructure. With a comprehensive inspection and emergency preparedness program in place, the dam remains a reliable structure in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and increasing water demand. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of dams like Thompson Creek in promoting water security and resilience against environmental threats is crucial for sustainable water management practices in the face of a changing climate.
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 Thompson Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio C A Riverside Dr Nr Chino Ca | · | → |
| Chino C A Schaefer Avenue Nr Chino Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Cucamonga C Nr Mira Loma Ca | 15 cfs | → |
| San Gabriel R Bl Santa Fe Dam Nr Baldwin Pk Ca | 141 cfs | → |
| Lytle C Nr Fontana Ca | 48 cfs | → |
| Fontana Ph Forebay Spillway Nr Fontana Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Thompson Creek.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Bohelli Regional Park
- Big Dalton Campground
- Kelly Camp
- Cedar Glen Campground
- Manker Flat Campground
- Manker
Fishing spots
- Puddingstone Reservoir
- Puddingstone Lake
- Mt Baldy Trout Pools
- Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park Lake
- Prado Regional Park, El Lake
- Santa Fe Dam
Paddle runs
- Laurel Gulch To Confluence With Mineo Canyon (Se 1/4, Sw 1/4, Sec 17, T2n, R8w)
- Middle Fork - Commanche Campsite To Middle Fork Trailhead
- 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)
- East Fork - Confluence Of Vincent Gulch And Prairie Fork (Nw 1/4, Sw 1/4 Sec 16 ) To Laurel Gulch (Nw 1/4, Sw 1/4, Sec 17, T2n, R8w)
- 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)
- Mainstream - Headwaters To Confluence With Cooper Canyon
Track Thompson Creek 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 Thompson Creek
Where does the data for Thompson Creek 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 Thompson Creek.