Santa Felicia dam
Santa Felicia
Santa Felicia, also known as Lake Piru, is a captivating water resource in Ventura, California, owned by the local government. Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, this dam serves multiple purposes including hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, recreation, and water supply for the region. Completed in 1955, Santa Felicia's earth dam stands at an impressive height of 213 feet, with a storage capacity of 88,000 acre-feet and a surface area of 1,240 acres.
Situated on Piru Creek in the Los Angeles District, Santa Felicia plays a vital role in water management for the area. With a high hazard potential, the dam is regularly inspected and maintained by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure its safety. The reservoir offers a maximum discharge capacity of 208,800 cubic feet per second and features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 475 feet, providing essential flood control measures for the region.
Water and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the significance of Santa Felicia as a key water supply source in California. With its strategic location and critical role in water management, this dam serves as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Santa Felicia -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Piru Creek Below Santa Felicia Dam Ca | 35 cfs | → |
| Santa Clara R Nr Piru Ca | 57 cfs | → |
| Piru Creek Above Lake Piru Ca | 30 cfs | → |
| Sespe C Nr Fillmore | 40 cfs | → |
| Piru C Ab Frenchmans Flat Ca | 16 cfs | → |
| Santa Paula C Nr Santa Paula | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Santa Felicia .
Boat launches
- Piru Canyon Road 4780, Castaic
- Lake Hughes Road Castaic
- Interstate 5, Lebec
- Vacquero Boating And Picnic Site
- Vista Del Lago Road 21, Lebec
- Pyramid Lake Road, Lebec
Campgrounds
- Lake Piru State Rec Area
- Castaic Lake
- Tapo Canyon Co Park
- Kenney Grove County Park
- Oak Park
- Cienaga Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Lower Piru Creek (Oulet At Pyramid Reservoir) To Piru Reservoir
- Castaic To Pyramid Reservoir
- Site Of St Francis Dam Disaster To Seco Canyon At The Nf Boundary
- Confluence With Gold Hill Creek To Castaic
- Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Gold Hill Creek
- Green Valley At The Nf Boundary To Site Of St Francis Dam Disaster
More reservoirs
Track Santa Felicia 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 Santa Felicia
Where does the data for Santa Felicia 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 Santa Felicia .