Sutherland dam
Sutherland
Sutherland Dam, located in Ramona, California, along the Santa Ysabel Creek, is a critical infrastructure owned by the local government for flood risk reduction and water supply purposes. Completed in 1954, this Multi-Arch type dam stands at a height of 162 feet with a storage capacity of 29,000 acre-feet and a surface area of 550 acres. With a drainage area of 54 square miles, it plays a vital role in managing water resources in the region.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program, Sutherland Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state authorities. Despite being deemed as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2017 was reported as satisfactory. The last inspection in December 2020 indicated that the dam was meeting safety standards, showcasing its importance in mitigating flood risks in the area.
The presence of Sutherland Dam not only highlights the significance of water resource management in California but also underscores the crucial role of infrastructure in climate resilience. As climate change continues to impact the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, dams like Sutherland play a vital role in safeguarding communities and ecosystems from flooding and ensuring a sustainable water supply for the region.
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 Sutherland -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ysabel C Nr Ramona Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Guejito C Nr San Pasqual Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Santa Maria C Nr Ramona Ca | · | → |
| Los Coches C Nr Lakeside Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater R Nr Descanso Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Los Penasquitos C Nr Poway Ca | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sutherland.
⚓ Boat launches
- Sutherland Dam Road 21568-21722, Ramona
- Highway 76 26439, Santa Ysabel
- Lake Hodges Boat Launching Area
- Lake Miramar
- Vail Lake Boat Ramp
- 2315-2351 Barrett Lake Rd, California
⛺ Campgrounds
- Dos Picos
- William Heise
- Crestline Picnic Area
- Crestline Group Campground
- Lake Cuyamaca Park
- Broken Rock Ranch
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- Forest Boundary, Above Zoo Creek Below Spillway (S1/2, Sec 3, T11s, R2e) To La Jolla Indian Reservation Boundary (N1/2, Sec 31, T10s, R2e)
- Confluence Of Fry And Iron Spring Creeks (E1/2, Sec 3, T10s,R1e To Se1/4 Sec 16, T10s, R2e
- Crouch Ranch To Morena Reservoir
- Santa Margarita River
- Devil Canyon Tributary To San Mateo Creek
Track Sutherland 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 Sutherland
Where does the data for Sutherland 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 Sutherland.