El Casco dam
El Casco
El Casco is a historic earth dam located in Riverside, California, specifically in the city of Redlands along the San Timoteo Creek. Built in 1879, it serves primarily as a water supply reservoir for irrigation purposes. With a height of 19 feet and a storage capacity of 143 acre-feet, the dam is operated and regulated by the California Department of Water Resources, Safety of Dams division, ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its age, El Casco is in satisfactory condition with a low hazard potential, as determined by regular inspections. The dam boasts a robust structure, standing at a length of 1200 feet and a hydraulic height of 16 feet. Managed by private owners, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region, providing essential water supply for agricultural activities and contributing to the overall ecological balance of the area.
As a key feature in the local water infrastructure, El Casco represents a significant historical and functional asset. With its long-standing presence and continued operational relevance, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing water resource challenges. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience will find El Casco to be a fascinating example of how past engineering feats continue to play a vital role in shaping the water landscape of California.
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 Casco -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sar Supp Gage Nr Mentone Ca | 30 cfs | → |
| Santa Ana R Nr Mentone (River Only) Ca | 24 cfs | → |
| Plunge C Nr East Highlands Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| San Timoteo C Nr Loma Linda Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| City C Nr Highland Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Santa Ana R A E St Nr San Bernardino Ca | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near El Casco.
Boat launches
- Vacation Drive 28736, Canyon Lake
- Goetz Road Riverside County
- Pacific Crest Trail, Hesperia
- Warren Road 37701, Temecula
Campgrounds
- Cherry Valley Lakes
- Yucaipa Regional Park
- Lake Perris State Rec Area
- Bogart Park
- March Arb Military
- Mountain Home Flat
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Filaree Flat To Confluence With Bear Creek
- Big Bear Dam To Private Land In Sec 19, T1n, R1w
- Big Meadows To Filaree Flat
- Below Deep Creek Lake To Below 2w01 Crossing
- South Fork Headwaters To San Gorgonio Wilderness Boundary/Sf Diversion Dam
- East Fork Headwaters To Confluence With South Fork
Track El Casco 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 Casco
Where does the data for El Casco 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 El Casco.