Lower Peters Canyon Retarding Basin dam
Lower Peters Canyon Retarding Basin
Lower Peters Canyon Retarding Basin, located in Lemon Heights, California, serves as a crucial flood risk reduction infrastructure along the Peters Can Wash. Completed in 1990, this earth dam stands at a height of 52 feet and has a storage capacity of 206 acre-feet, providing protection to the surrounding area from potential flooding events. The dam, owned by the local government and regulated by the Department of Water Resources for dam safety, plays a vital role in safeguarding the community from the hazards of high-risk potential associated with its location.
With a satisfactory condition assessment as of September 2017, the Lower Peters Canyon Retarding Basin remains a key piece of water resource infrastructure in Orange County. The dam's primary purpose of flood risk reduction is complemented by its secondary function of water supply, demonstrating its versatility in serving the local community. Regular inspections and enforcement by state regulatory agencies ensure the dam's continued reliability and safety for the residents and wildlife in the area.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and weather patterns, structures like the Lower Peters Canyon Retarding Basin become increasingly important in managing the risks of floods and ensuring sustainable water management practices. With high hazard potential but satisfactory condition, this dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management and the collaboration between local government and state agencies in protecting communities from the effects of extreme weather events.
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 Lower Peters Canyon Retarding Basin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Santiago C A Santa Ana Ca | · | → |
| Agua Chinon Wash Nr Irvine Ca | · | → |
| Sand Cyn C A Irvine Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Santa Ana R A Santa Ana Ca | · | → |
| Bonita C A Irvine Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Santa Ana R Bl Prado Dam Ca | 107 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Peters Canyon Retarding Basin.
⚓ Boat launches
More boat launches →⛺ Campgrounds
- Oso Lake Scout Camp
- Chino Hills - State Park
- Deer Canyon Campground
- Oneill Regional Park
- Upper Moro Campground
- Lower Moro Campground
🎣 Fishing spots
- Irvine Lake (Santiago Res)
- Santa Ana River Lakes
- Anaheim Lake
- Tri-City Park Lake
- Laguna 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)
- 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
- 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)
Track Lower Peters Canyon Retarding 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 Lower Peters Canyon Retarding Basin
Where does the data for Lower Peters Canyon Retarding 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 Lower Peters Canyon Retarding Basin.