Upper Monarch Lake dam
Upper Monarch Lake
Upper Monarch Lake, located in Mineral King, California, is a privately owned dam with a primary purpose of water supply. Built in 1905, this gravity-type dam stands at 22 feet tall and has a storage capacity of 314 acre-feet. The lake covers a surface area of 17 acres and is fed by the Efk Kaweah River, serving as a vital resource for hydroelectric power and water supply in the region.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources, Upper Monarch Lake has a low hazard potential and is considered to be in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in 2017. With state regulation, permitting, and inspection in place, the dam is equipped to handle any potential risks or emergencies. The surrounding area of Tulare County benefits from the controlled water flow and storage provided by this essential infrastructure.
As an integral part of the water resource management system in California, Upper Monarch Lake plays a crucial role in maintaining a stable water supply for the region. With its historical significance dating back over a century, this dam continues to serve as a reliable source of water for both domestic and industrial use, while also contributing to the overall climate resilience of the area.
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 Upper Monarch Lake -- 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 | → |
| Sf Tule R Nr Cholollo Campground Nr Porterville Ca | 20 cfs | → |
| Sf Tule R Nr Reservation Bndry Nr Porterville Ca | 35 cfs | → |
| Deer C Nr Fountain Springs Ca | 23 cfs | → |
| Sf Kern R Nr Onyx Ca | 128 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Monarch Lake.
⚓ Boat launches
More boat launches →⛺ Campgrounds
- Cold Springs - Sequoia National Park
- Spot For One Tent
- Spacious Campsite (2-3 Tents)
- Campsite (5-6 Tents)
- Rocktop Campsite (1 Tent)
- Log Benches Campsite
🎣 Fishing spots
- Balch Park Lakes, Eastern Lake
- Balch Park Lakes, Western Lake
- Consultation Lake
- Upper Boy Scout Lake
- High Lake
- Mirror Lake
🛶 Paddle runs
- 8,000 Ft Contour Line (Boundary Extend 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of River) To The Atwell Mill Trail Bridge At ~ 5,800 Ft
- 9,000 Ft Contour Line (Boundary Extend 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of River) To 8,000 Ft Contour Line
- Atwell Mill Trail Bridge At ~5,800 Ft (Boundary Extends 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of The River.) To Boundary Of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park
- Confluence Of Lone Pine And Hamilton (Deer) Creeks (Boundary Extend 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of River) To Wildernes Boundary
- Outlet Of Green Meadows North Of The Windy Gap And Windy Ridges (Boundary Extend 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of River) To Bridge Above South Fork Campground
- Wilderness Boundary (Boundary Extend 0.25 Mile On Each Side Of River) To Boundary Of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park
Track Upper Monarch Lake 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 Upper Monarch Lake
Where does the data for Upper Monarch Lake 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 Low 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 Upper Monarch Lake.