Rattlesnake Canyon dam
Rattlesnake Canyon
Rattlesnake Canyon, also known as Rattlesnake Reservoir, is a vital water resource located in Tustin, California. Owned by a public utility, this dam serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, irrigation, and water supply. Completed in 1959, the earth dam stands at a height of 79 feet and has a storage capacity of 1480 acre-feet, making it a crucial component of water management in the region.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources and regulated by the Safety of Dams agency, Rattlesnake Canyon is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and functionality. With a drainage area of 2.02 square miles and a surface area of 60 acres, this reservoir plays a significant role in managing water resources in Orange County. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is assessed to be in satisfactory condition as of the last evaluation in September 2017.
Rattlesnake Canyon's proximity to Rattlesnake Creek and its strategic location in the Los Angeles District underline its importance in water management and conservation efforts. The dam's emergency action plan is regularly updated to meet guidelines, ensuring that it can effectively respond to any potential risks or emergencies. As a key element in California's water infrastructure, Rattlesnake Canyon stands as a testament to the state's commitment to sustainable water resource management in the face of a changing climate.
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 Rattlesnake Canyon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Agua Chinon Wash Nr Irvine Ca | · | → |
| Sand Cyn C A Irvine Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Santiago C A Santa Ana Ca | · | → |
| Bonita C A Irvine Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Santa Ana R A Santa Ana Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Santa Ana R Bl Prado Dam Ca | 127 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rattlesnake Canyon.
Boat launches
- Granada Launch Ramp - Long Beach
- Eucalyptus Park Road, San Dimas
- Vacation Drive 28736, Canyon Lake
- Goetz Road Riverside County
Campgrounds
- Oso Lake Scout Camp
- Oneill Regional Park
- Deer Canyon Campground
- Upper Moro Campground
- Lower Moro Campground
- Crystal Cove State Park - Moro Campground
Fishing spots
- Irvine Lake (Santiago Res)
- Santa Ana River Lakes
- Anaheim Lake
- Laguna Niguel Lake
- Tri-City Park Lake
- Prado Regional Park, El Lake
Paddle runs
- San Mateo Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary With Camp Pendleton
- Devil Canyon Tributary To San Mateo Creek
- Laurel Gulch To Confluence With Mineo Canyon (Se 1/4, Sw 1/4, Sec 17, T2n, R8w)
- Santa Margarita River
- Gaging Station Below Spillway Of Cogswell Dam (Ne 1/4, Se 1/4, Sec 19, T2n, R10w) To Confluence With Nf San Gabriel River (Sw 1/4.Sw 1/4, Sec 15, T2n, R9w)
- Middle Fork - Commanche Campsite To Middle Fork Trailhead
Track Rattlesnake Canyon 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 Rattlesnake Canyon
Where does the data for Rattlesnake Canyon 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 Rattlesnake Canyon.