Maerkle dam
Maerkle
Maerkle dam, located in Carlsbad, California, serves as a vital water supply structure in the region, primarily for irrigation and water supply purposes. Completed in 1963, this earth dam stands at a height of 165 feet and has a storage capacity of 600 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Tr Aqua Hedionda river and has a surface area of 14 acres, serving as a crucial resource for the local community.
Managed by a public utility, Maerkle dam is regulated and inspected by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Safety of Dams program. With a high hazard potential, the dam's condition has been assessed as satisfactory, ensuring its structural integrity and safety. The last inspection took place in January 2020, with a scheduled frequency of one inspection per year, highlighting the ongoing efforts to monitor and maintain the dam's operations.
In the event of an emergency, the dam is equipped with an Emergency Action Plan (EAP), although details regarding its preparation and guidelines compliance are not specified in the available data. With its critical role in water resource management and the potential risks associated with its high hazard rating, Maerkle dam stands as a key infrastructure element in the region's water supply system, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts.
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 Maerkle -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Luis Rey R A Oceanside Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Santa Margarita R A Ysidora Ca | · | → |
| Oneill Lake Outlet Ch Nr Fallbrook Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Oneill Lk Spill Ch Nr Fallbrook Ca | · | → |
| Fallbrook C Nr Fallbrook Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Las Flores C Nr Oceanside Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Maerkle.
Boat launches
- Lake Hodges Boat Launching Area
- Lake Miramar
- Shore Drive San Diego
- Mission Bay Drive San Diego
- Santa Clara Place 1001, San Diego
Campgrounds
- South Carlsbad State Beach
- Guajome Park
- Oceanside Harbor
- San Elijo State Beach
- Del Mar Beach Military
- Group Camp Site
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Santa Margarita River
- Devil Canyon Tributary To San Mateo Creek
- Confluence Of Fry And Iron Spring Creeks (E1/2, Sec 3, T10s,R1e To Se1/4 Sec 16, T10s, R2e
- 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)
- San Mateo Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary With Camp Pendleton
Track Maerkle 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 Maerkle
Where does the data for Maerkle 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 Maerkle.