Trabuco Retarding Basin dam
Trabuco Retarding Basin
Trabuco Retarding Basin, located in Orange County, California, is a vital structure managed by the local government for flood risk reduction along the San Diego Creek. Completed in 1996, this earth dam stands at 18 feet high, with a hydraulic height of 14.5 feet, offering a storage capacity of 390 acre-feet. The basin covers a surface area of 22.25 acres and serves a drainage area of 3.17 square miles, making it a crucial component in managing water resources and mitigating flood hazards in the region.
The dam's high hazard potential is closely monitored, with regular inspections ensuring its structural integrity remains satisfactory. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) oversees the state-regulated Trabuco Retarding Basin, enforcing permitting, inspection, and enforcement measures to uphold its safety standards. With its strategic location and design, the basin plays a crucial role in safeguarding the surrounding community against potential inundation events, demonstrating the proactive approach taken to manage water resources and climate-related risks in the area.
Managed under the jurisdiction of the DWR, the Trabuco Retarding Basin serves as a critical flood control infrastructure in Southern California. With its significant storage capacity and strategic design, this earth dam plays a vital role in reducing flood risks and protecting the local community from potential water-related hazards. As part of the state's comprehensive approach to water resource management and climate resilience, the basin represents a proactive measure in safeguarding against the impacts of extreme weather events and ensuring the safety and security of the surrounding area.
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 Trabuco Retarding Basin -- 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 | → |
| Bonita C A Irvine Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Santiago C A Santa Ana Ca | · | → |
| Santa Ana R A Santa Ana Ca | · | → |
| Santa Ana R Bl Prado Dam Ca | 114 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Trabuco Retarding Basin.
Boat launches
- Granada Launch Ramp - Long Beach
- Eucalyptus Park Road, San Dimas
- Vacation Drive 28736, Canyon Lake
- Goetz Road Riverside County
Campgrounds
- Deer Canyon Campground
- Upper Moro Campground
- Oso Lake Scout Camp
- Lower Moro Campground
- Oneill Regional Park
- Crystal Cove State Park - Moro Campground
Fishing spots
- Irvine Lake (Santiago Res)
- Laguna Niguel Lake
- Santa Ana River Lakes
- Anaheim Lake
- Tri-City Park Lake
- Laguna Lake
Paddle runs
- San Mateo Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary With Camp Pendleton
- Devil Canyon Tributary To San Mateo Creek
- Santa Margarita River
- 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)
Track Trabuco 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 Trabuco Retarding Basin
Where does the data for Trabuco 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 Trabuco Retarding Basin.