Big Lagoon dam
Big Lagoon
Big Lagoon, located in Humboldt County, California, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1947 for water supply purposes. The dam stands at 16 feet high with a hydraulic height of 12 feet, creating a storage capacity of 780 acre-feet. With a surface area of 78 acres and a drainage area of 1.45 square miles, Big Lagoon serves as a vital resource for the surrounding area.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources and regulated by the Safety of Dams program, Big Lagoon has a low hazard potential and is in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in September 2017. Despite its age, the dam has shown resilience and continues to provide essential water supply services to the region. With its serene surroundings and important role in water resource management, Big Lagoon is a site of interest for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
With Congressman Jared Huffman representing the district, Big Lagoon's significance extends beyond its structural attributes. The dam plays a crucial role in mitigating water scarcity in the area and contributes to the overall environmental resilience of the region. As climate change impacts water resources, the sustainable management of structures like Big Lagoon becomes increasingly important, making it a focal point for those interested in the intersection of water management and climate adaptation.
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.
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Lagoon.
⚓ Boat launches
- Big Lagoon Boat Ramp Humboldt County
- Trinidad Wharf, Trinidad
- Redwood Highway, Trinidad
- Mad River County Park Mckinleyville
- South I Street, Arcata
- Waterfront Trail Eureka
⛺ Campgrounds
- Big Lagoon County Park
- Patricks Point State Park
- Lookout Rock Camp Site
- Lookout Rock Group Campground
- Humboldt Lagoons State Park
- Rv Tent Sites
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- Sounthern Boundary Of Redwood National And State Parks To Northern Boundary Of Redwood National And State Parks
- Lacks Creek
- Nw 1/4 Sec 23, T14n, R4e To Near Center Of Sec 3, T12n, R3e
- From The Reserve Boundary Just Downstream Of The Elk River Trailhead In Sec. 35 T4n, R1w, Humboldt Meridian (H.M.) To To The Old Town Site At Falk In Sec. 36, T4n, R1w, H.M.
- Starts In Sec. 8 T3n, R1e, H.M. To Ends In Sec. 15, T3n, R1e, H.M
- From The Old Town Site At Falk In Sec. 36, T4n, R1w, H.M. To To The Headwaters In Sec. 14 T3n, R1e, H.M.
Track Big Lagoon 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 Lagoon
Where does the data for Big Lagoon 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 Big Lagoon.