Morena dam
Morena
Morena dam, located in San Diego, California, is a Rockfill dam completed in 1912 with a primary purpose of water supply. It stands at a height of 181 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 50,206 acre-feet, serving the surrounding area with a surface area of 1,475 acres. The dam is situated on Cottonwood Creek, managed by the local government in Barrett Junction, and is regulated by the California Department of Water Resources, ensuring state permitting, inspection, and enforcement for its operation.
Despite its historical significance and essential role in water supply, Morena dam poses a high hazard potential with a poor condition assessment. The last inspection in February 2022 revealed the need for improvements to meet safety standards. Emergency action plans are in place, but their effectiveness and adherence to guidelines remain uncertain. With a risk management framework yet to be fully developed, there is a need for proactive measures to mitigate potential risks and ensure the dam's long-term resilience in the face of changing climate conditions.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Morena dam serves as a focal point for understanding the intersection of infrastructure, natural resources, and risk management. Its location in a high-risk area underscores the importance of proactive maintenance and modernization efforts to safeguard water supply and protect communities downstream. As climate change brings increased variability in precipitation patterns and heightened hydrological risks, the resilience of structures like Morena dam will be crucial for ensuring water security and disaster preparedness 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 Morena -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Campo C Nr Campo Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater R Nr Descanso Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater R A Dehesa Ca | · | → |
| Jamul C Nr Jamul Ca | 9 cfs | → |
| Los Coches C Nr Lakeside Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Diego R A Mast Rd Nr Santee Ca | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Morena.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Lake Morena
- Barrett Lake (San Diego City)
- Barrett Lake
- El Capitan Reservoir
- Cuyamaca Lake
- Lower Otay Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Crouch Ranch To Morena Reservoir
- Cañon La Presa (Valle Las Palma To Presa Rodriguez)
- 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
More reservoirs
Track Morena 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 Morena
Where does the data for Morena 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 Morena.