El Capitan dam
El Capitan
El Capitan is a vital water supply infrastructure located in Lakeside, California, along the San Diego River. This earth dam, standing at 237 feet tall, was completed in 1934 and has a storage capacity of 112,800 acre-feet, serving as a critical resource for the region. Despite its significant contribution to water supply, El Capitan is currently assessed as being in poor condition, with a high hazard potential, making it imperative for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued functionality.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and Safety of Dams, El Capitan has a history of state oversight and inspection to uphold safety standards. The dam's primary purpose of water supply underscores its importance for the surrounding communities, with a drainage area of 190 square miles and a surface area of 1562 acres. The dam's strategic location and role in the water resource infrastructure make it a key component in the region's water management strategies, highlighting the critical need for its continued operation and maintenance.
With a history of state permitting, inspection, and enforcement, El Capitan remains a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking to understand the intersection of infrastructure, regulation, and environmental sustainability. As efforts to address the dam's poor condition and high hazard potential continue, the future of El Capitan serves as a case study in the ongoing challenges of managing essential water resources amidst evolving climate conditions and regulatory frameworks.
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 El Capitan -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Los Coches C Nr Lakeside Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater R A Dehesa Ca | · | → |
| Sweetwater R Nr Descanso Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Diego R A Mast Rd Nr Santee Ca | 7 cfs | → |
| Santa Maria C Nr Ramona Ca | · | → |
| Santa Ysabel C Nr Ramona Ca | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near El Capitan.
Boat launches
- Sutherland Dam Road 21568-21722, Ramona
- 2315-2351 Barrett Lake Rd, California
- Lake Miramar
- San Diego County
- Lake Hodges Boat Launching Area
- Mission Bay Drive San Diego
Campgrounds
- Lake Jennings
- Dos Picos
- Santee Lakes Regional Park
- Green Valley - Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
- Green Valley Campground
- Paso Picacho - Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Fishing spots
- El Capitan Reservoir
- Jennings Lake
- San Vicente Reservoir
- Cuyamaca Lake
- Murray Reservoir
- Sutherland Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Crouch Ranch To Morena Reservoir
- 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
- Cañon La Presa (Valle Las Palma To Presa Rodriguez)
- Santa Margarita River
Track El Capitan 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 El Capitan
Where does the data for El Capitan 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 El Capitan.