Santa Monica Debris Basin dam
Santa Monica Debris Basin
Santa Monica Debris Basin, located in Carpenteria, California, is a key structure managed by the local government for debris control and water supply purposes. Designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1978, this earth dam stands at a height of 102 feet and has a storage capacity of 79 acre-feet. With a drainage area of 3.8 square miles and a surface area of 5 acres, the basin plays a crucial role in managing the flow of Santa Monica Creek during heavy rainfall and mitigating the risk of flooding in the surrounding area.
Managed by the Department of Water Resources and Safety of Dams, the Santa Monica Debris Basin is subject to state regulations, permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and operational efficiency. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam has been assessed as satisfactory in condition, with the last inspection conducted in April 2020. Emergency action plans are in place, and the basin has a designated emergency contact for swift response in case of any unforeseen events. The basin's location in Santa Barbara County, near Los Angeles District, highlights its strategic importance in protecting the local community and water resources.
Encompassing a history of over four decades, the Santa Monica Debris Basin continues to serve as a critical infrastructure for managing debris flow and safeguarding water supply in the region. With Salud O. Carbajal as the congressional representative overseeing the area, the dam's operations and maintenance are crucial for ensuring the safety and resilience of the surrounding communities. As climate change intensifies the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the Santa Monica Debris Basin stands as a vital asset in the ongoing efforts to adapt and mitigate the impacts of a changing climate on water resources and infrastructure in California.
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 Monica Debris Basin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Carpinteria C Nr Carpinteria Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Mission C A Rnp A Santa Barbara Ca | · | → |
| Matilija C Nr Res Nr Matilija Hot Springs Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Mission C Nr Mission St Nr Santa Barbara Ca | · | → |
| Gibraltar Dam Div Weir A Gibraltar Dam Ca | 13 cfs | → |
| Gibralter Dam Rel Wr A Gibralter Dam Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Santa Monica Debris Basin.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Alder Creek Camp
- Upper Santa Ynez Camp
- Middle Santa Ynez
- Middle Santa Ynez Campground
- P-Bar Flat Campground
- Lake Casitas
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Chorro Grande Canyon To Section Line Dividing Sec 1, T5n, R23w And Sec 6, T5n, T22w
- Section Line To Confluence With Rock Creek
- Headwaters, Upper Piru Creek To Wildernes Boundary
- Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Gold Hill Creek
- Headwaters In The Santa Monica Mountains To Mouth At Pacific Ocean
- Confluence With Gold Hill Creek To Castaic
More reservoirs
Track Santa Monica Debris Basin 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 Monica Debris Basin
Where does the data for Santa Monica Debris Basin 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 Monica Debris Basin.