Irrigation Reservoir dam
Irrigation Reservoir
Located in Bakersfield, California, the Irrigation Reservoir is a vital water supply infrastructure owned by the local government. Built in 1980, this offstream reservoir primarily serves the purpose of water supply and flood risk reduction. With a dam height of 22 feet and a storage capacity of 5200 acre-feet, the reservoir covers a surface area of 380 acres and plays a crucial role in managing water resources in Kern County.
Managed and regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and Safety of Dams agency, the Irrigation Reservoir is subject to regular inspections and enforcement measures to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of September 2017, the reservoir stands as a critical component in the region's water management system. Despite its age, the reservoir continues to play a key role in providing water for agricultural irrigation and other essential purposes in the area.
As a significant water infrastructure in the Sacramento District, the Irrigation Reservoir contributes to the overall water supply security in California. With its capacity to store 5200 acre-feet of water and its strategic location in Bakersfield, the reservoir remains a key player in mitigating flood risks and meeting the water needs of the local community. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate management can appreciate the importance of this infrastructure in sustaining agricultural activities and ensuring water availability in the region.
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 Irrigation Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deer C Nr Fountain Springs Ca | 19 cfs | → |
| Sf Tule R Nr Reservation Bndry Nr Porterville Ca | 34 cfs | → |
| Santa Barbara Cyn C Nr Ventucopa Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Piru C Ab Frenchmans Flat Ca | 16 cfs | → |
| Sf Tule R Nr Cholollo Campground Nr Porterville Ca | 20 cfs | → |
| Sf Kern R Nr Onyx Ca | 121 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Irrigation Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Lake Ming Road 13375, Bakersfield
- Ironbark Road 13601, Bakersfield
- Ironbark Road 11803, Taft
- Democrat Raft Take-Out Boating Site
- Delonegha River Access Boating Site
- Kern Canyon Road Bodfish
Campgrounds
- Kern River Park
- Camp Okihi. Bakersfield
- Kern River Camp Ground. Bakersfield
- Buena Vista Aquatic Rec Area
- Free Camping. Sunset-Sunrise. Shafter, Ca. Usa
- Oak Flat Lookout/Cabin
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- 20.2 Miles Downstream Of Isabella Dam To Western Nf Boundary
- 7 Miles From Isabella Dam To 20.2 Miles From Isabella Dam
- Sandy Flat Camp To Democrat Picnic Area
- Isabella Lake Dam To 7 Miles Downstream
- Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Gold Hill Creek
- Confluence With Gold Hill Creek To Castaic
Track Irrigation Reservoir 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 Irrigation Reservoir
Where does the data for Irrigation Reservoir 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 Irrigation Reservoir.