Gibraltar dam
Gibraltar
Gibraltar Reservoir, located in Santa Barbara, California, is a key water resource managed by the local government for flood risk reduction and water supply purposes. This arch-type dam, completed in 1920 with a height of 169 feet and a storage capacity of 9998 acre-feet, plays a critical role in managing the flow of the Santa Ynez River. The dam's high hazard potential is mitigated by regular inspections and a satisfactory condition assessment, ensuring the safety of the surrounding community.
The Gibraltar Reservoir, with its 600-foot length and 335-acre surface area, serves as a vital water storage facility in the region. Under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Water Resources and regulated by the Safety of Dams program, the dam undergoes regular inspections to uphold safety standards. The last inspection in June 2020 reaffirmed its satisfactory condition, providing assurance to residents and stakeholders reliant on its flood control and water supply functions.
Managed by the local government and situated in the picturesque city of Solvang, Gibraltar Reservoir stands as a testament to effective water resource management in California. With its significant storage capacity and strategic location along the Santa Ynez River, the dam plays a crucial role in safeguarding the local community from flood risks and ensuring a reliable water supply. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the resilience and maintenance of structures like Gibraltar Reservoir are essential for sustainable water management 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 Gibraltar -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ynez R Bl Gibraltar Dam Nr Snta Brb C Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Gibralter Dam Rel Wr A Gibralter Dam Ca | · | → |
| Gibraltar Dam Div Weir A Gibraltar Dam Ca | 13 cfs | → |
| Mission C A Rnp A Santa Barbara Ca | · | → |
| Mission C Nr Mission St Nr Santa Barbara Ca | · | → |
| San Jose C Nr Goleta Ca | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gibraltar.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Upper Oso
- Upper Oso Campground
- P-Bar Flat Campground
- Sage Hill Group Campground
- Middle Santa Ynez Campground
- Middle Santa Ynez
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Chorro Grande Canyon To Section Line Dividing Sec 1, T5n, R23w And Sec 6, T5n, T22w
- Section Line To Confluence With Rock Creek
- Headwaters, Upper Piru Creek To Wildernes Boundary
- Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Gold Hill Creek
- Confluence With Gold Hill Creek To Castaic
- Castaic To Pyramid Reservoir
More reservoirs
Track Gibraltar 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 Gibraltar
Where does the data for Gibraltar 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 Gibraltar.