Big Pine Creek dam
Big Pine Creek
Big Pine Creek, also known as Big Pine Lake, is a vital water resource located in Inyo, California. The dam on Big Pine Creek is owned by the local government and is regulated by the Department of Water Resources for safety. With a primary purpose of water supply, the dam serves multiple functions including hydroelectric power generation and irrigation. The rockfill dam stands at a height of 14 feet and has a storage capacity of 1071 acre-feet, providing valuable water resources for the surrounding area.
This dam on Big Pine Creek has a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition, as assessed in September 2017. Regular inspections ensure its safety, with the last inspection conducted in September 2019. The dam's Emergency Action Plan is up to date, meeting guidelines for emergency preparedness. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam on Big Pine Creek continues to provide essential water resources for the region while maintaining a satisfactory condition.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will be fascinated by the infrastructure and operations of the Big Pine Creek dam. Its role in water supply, hydroelectric power generation, and irrigation highlights the importance of responsible water management in California. The dam's location in the picturesque city of Big Pine adds to its allure, making it a significant landmark for those interested in water resource management and environmental sustainability in 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 Big Pine Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Marble Fork Kaweah R Ab Horse C Nr Lodgepole Ca | 159 cfs | → |
| Hot C A Flume Nr Mammoth Lakes Ca | 58 cfs | → |
| Mf San Joaquin R Nr Mammoth Lakes Ca | 557 cfs | → |
| Deadman C A Big Springs Nr Crestview Ca | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Pine Creek.
⛺ Campgrounds
- Big Pine Creek Trailhead
- Big Pine Creek Campground
- Big Pine
- Big Pine Canyon Group- Clyde & Palisade Glacier
- Upper Sage Campground
- Upper Sage
🛶 Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Wilderness Boundary
- Wilderness Boundary To Private Property
- Headwaters To Inlet At South Lake
- Dam Outlet At South Lake To Habeggers Rv Park
- Outlet Of Martha Lake (Boundary Extend 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of River) To Northwestern Boundary Of Kings Canyon National Park
- Northwest Boundary Of Nf/Kings Canyon Np To Hot Springs Area
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Big Pine 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 Big Pine Creek
Where does the data for Big Pine 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 Big Pine Creek.