Sweetwater Main dam
Sweetwater Main
Sweetwater Main, located in Chula Vista, California, is a gravity dam on the Sweetwater River with a height of 112 feet and a hydraulic height of 99 feet. Completed in 1888, this dam serves primarily for water supply purposes, with a storage capacity of 27,689 acre-feet and a surface area of 936 acres. The dam is regulated by the Department of Water Resources and is subject to regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
Despite being rated as having a high hazard potential, Sweetwater Main is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of September 2017. The dam has not undergone any modifications in recent years, and its emergency action plan was last revised in February 2021. The surrounding area is at risk of inundation in the event of a breach, but specific risk management measures and assessments are not detailed in the available data.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the historical significance and technical details of Sweetwater Main will find this structure to be a key component of water management in San Diego County. With its role in irrigation, tailings, and water supply, this dam stands as a testament to California's long-standing efforts to harness and protect its water resources.
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 Sweetwater Main -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Jamul C Nr Jamul Ca | 10 cfs | → |
| San Diego R A Mast Rd Nr Santee Ca | 6 cfs | → |
| San Diego R A Fashion Valley At San Diego Ca | 9 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater R A Dehesa Ca | · | → |
| Los Coches C Nr Lakeside Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Los Penasquitos C Nr Poway Ca | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sweetwater Main.
Boat launches
- Glorietta Bay Marina A California Yacht Marina
- Mission Bay Drive San Diego
- Shore Drive San Diego
- Public Boat Launching Facility
- Santa Clara Place 1001, San Diego
Campgrounds
- Sweetwater Summit
- Kumeyaay Lake Campground - Mission Trails Park
- Fiddlers Cove Rv Military - Coronado Nb
- Silver Strand State Beach Dispersed
- Admiral Baker Military - San Diego Ns
- Tt Pio Pico Rv Resort
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Cañon La Presa (Valle Las Palma To Presa Rodriguez)
- 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
- Santa Margarita River
More reservoirs
Track Sweetwater Main 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 Sweetwater Main
Where does the data for Sweetwater Main 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 Sweetwater Main.