Paicines dam
Paicines
Located in the picturesque town of Paicines, California, Paicines Reservoir serves as a vital water resource for the local community. Built in 1912, this earth dam stands at a height of 29 feet and has a storage capacity of 4500 acre-feet. The reservoir primarily serves the purpose of irrigation and water supply, drawing water from the nearby Tr Tres Pinos Creek.
Managed by the local government, Paicines Reservoir is regulated and inspected by the California Department of Water Resources for dam safety. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2017 reported it as satisfactory. With a surface area of 170 acres and a length of 3200 feet, the reservoir provides a scenic backdrop for outdoor enthusiasts while also playing a crucial role in water supply management for the region.
With its historical significance and importance in water resource management, Paicines Reservoir stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of infrastructure projects in California. The dam's emergency action plan is regularly updated to ensure the safety of surrounding communities in case of a potential hazard. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the preservation and maintenance of structures like Paicines Reservoir are essential in safeguarding the environment and ensuring sustainable access to water for future generations.
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 Paicines -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tres Pinos C Nr Tres Pinos Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Benito R Nr Willow Creek School Ca | 35 cfs | → |
| San Benito R A Hwy 156 Nr Hollister Ca | · | → |
| Gabilan C Nr Salinas Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Pacheco C Nr Dunneville Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Salinas R Nr Chualar Ca | 77 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Paicines.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- San Justo Reservoir
- San Luis Reservoir
- Los Banos Reservoir
- O&Acute;Neill Forebay
- Oneill Forebay
- Coyote Lake
Paddle runs
- Ventana Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary
- 0.25 Miles Downstream Of The Impoundment Of Sportsman's Lodge To Ventana Wilderness Boundary
- 0.25 Milesupstram Of The Impoundment At Sportsman's Lodge To 0.25 Miles Downstream Of The Impoundment At Sportsman's Lodge
- Headwaters To Sportsman's Club
- Headwaters North Fork Little Sur To Boy Scout Camp
- Larious Creek
More reservoirs
Track Paicines 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 Paicines
Where does the data for Paicines 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 Paicines.