Etiwanda Debris Basin dam
Etiwanda Debris Basin
The Etiwanda Debris Basin, located in San Bernardino, California, along the East Etiwanda Creek, serves as a critical infrastructure for flood risk reduction in the region. Completed in 2008, this earth dam stands at a height of 50.5 feet, with a hydraulic height of 37 feet, providing a storage capacity of 283 acre-feet. The basin covers a surface area of 24.9 acres, with a drainage area of 5.42 square miles, making it an essential asset in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the area.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), the Etiwanda Debris Basin is subject to regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. The dam has been assessed as satisfactory, with a high hazard potential due to its purpose of flood risk reduction. Emergency action plans are in place to address any potential risks, with the last revision of the plan conducted in March 2021. With its crucial role in protecting the surrounding communities from flooding, the Etiwanda Debris Basin stands as a vital component of water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
As a key piece of infrastructure in the flood risk reduction strategy for San Bernardino, the Etiwanda Debris Basin plays a crucial role in safeguarding the area from potential disasters. With its strategic location along the East Etiwanda Creek and its significant storage capacity, the basin provides essential protection against flooding events. Regular inspections and maintenance ensure that the dam remains in satisfactory condition, ready to fulfill its purpose in mitigating flood risks and ensuring the safety of the community. The Etiwanda Debris Basin stands as a testament to effective water resource management and climate adaptation efforts in California, highlighting the importance of investing in resilient infrastructure to protect vulnerable areas from the impacts 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 Etiwanda Debris Basin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fontana Uwc Surface Div Nr Fontana Ca | 26 cfs | → |
| Fontana Ph Forebay Spillway Nr Fontana Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| Fontana Uwc Surface Div Weir 2 Nr Fontana Ca | 23 cfs | → |
| Lytle C Nr Fontana Ca | 43 cfs | → |
| Fontana Water Co Spill Ch From Afterbay Nr Fontana | 24 cfs | → |
| Cajon C Bl Lone Pine C Nr Keenbrook Ca | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Etiwanda Debris Basin.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Glen Helen Lakes
- Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park Lake
- Mt Baldy Trout Pools
- Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area
- Lake Evans
- Secombe Lake
Paddle runs
- Middle Fork - Commanche Campsite To Middle Fork Trailhead
- Laurel Gulch To Confluence With Mineo Canyon (Se 1/4, Sw 1/4, Sec 17, T2n, R8w)
- 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)
- Below 2w01 Crossing To Mojave Reservoir
- 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)
- Below Deep Creek Lake To Below 2w01 Crossing
Track Etiwanda 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 Etiwanda Debris Basin
Where does the data for Etiwanda 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 Etiwanda Debris Basin.