Big Dalton Debris Basin dam
Big Dalton Debris Basin
Big Dalton Debris Basin, located in Glendora, California, stands as a vital structure for debris control and flood risk reduction along the Big Dalton Wash. Constructed in 1960, this earth dam reaches a height of 59 feet and has a hydraulic height of 42.5 feet, with a storage capacity of 208 acre-feet. With a surface area of 10 acres and draining an area of 7.33 square miles, the basin plays a crucial role in mitigating potential hazards and maintaining the safety of the surrounding areas.
Managed by local government authorities and regulated by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) for dam safety, Big Dalton Debris Basin undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment, the basin's last inspection in November 2020 affirmed its operational readiness. While details on emergency action plans and risk management measures are not provided, the basin's strategic location and design contribute significantly to its effectiveness in safeguarding the community from potential disasters.
As a key component in the region's flood control infrastructure, Big Dalton Debris Basin remains a crucial asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Its role in debris control and flood risk reduction underscores the importance of proactive dam management and regulatory oversight in protecting vulnerable communities from the impacts of extreme weather events. With a history dating back to the 1960s, the basin continues to serve as a critical defense against potential hazards, highlighting the intersection of engineering innovation and environmental stewardship in ensuring the resilience of water resources in Los Angeles County.
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 Big Dalton Debris Basin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Gabriel R Bl Santa Fe Dam Nr Baldwin Pk Ca | 171 cfs | → |
| San Antonio C A Riverside Dr Nr Chino Ca | · | → |
| Chino C A Schaefer Avenue Nr Chino Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| San Gabriel R Ab Whittier Narrows Dam Ca | 30 cfs | → |
| Rio Hondo Ab Whittier Narrows Dam Ca | 90 cfs | → |
| Carbon C Bl Carbon Cyn Dam Ca | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Dalton Debris Basin.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Big Dalton Campground
- Bohelli Regional Park
- Lower Bear Cyn
- Glenn Camp Campground (Hike Or Bike In 7 Miles)
- Glenn Camp
- Spring Camp Campground
Fishing spots
- Puddingstone Reservoir
- Puddingstone Lake
- Santa Fe Dam
- Peck Road Park Lake
- Mt Baldy Trout Pools
- Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park Lake
Paddle runs
- Laurel Gulch To Confluence With Mineo Canyon (Se 1/4, Sw 1/4, Sec 17, T2n, R8w)
- North Fork - Confluence Of Soldier And Coldbrook Creeks (Se1/4,Sw1/4, Sec) 5, T2n,,R9w To Conflluence With West Fork Of San Gabriel (Sw 1/4,Sw1/4, Sec 17, T2n, R8w)
- 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)
- Cooper Canyon- Near State Highway 2 (Sw 1/4, Ne 1/4, Sec 16, T3n, R10w To Confluence With Little Rock Creek
- East Fork - Confluence Of Vincent Gulch And Prairie Fork (Nw 1/4, Sw 1/4 Sec 16 ) To Laurel Gulch (Nw 1/4, Sw 1/4, Sec 17, T2n, R8w)
- Mainstream - Confluence With Cooper Canyon To Confluence Wit South Fork Little Rock Creek
Track Big Dalton 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 Big Dalton Debris Basin
Where does the data for Big Dalton 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 Big Dalton Debris Basin.