El Piojo dam
El Piojo
El Piojo, also known as Dam #9, is a federal-owned structure located in Monterey, California, near the city of Bradley. Completed in 1961, this earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet and has a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. The dam, situated on the El Piojo River, has a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet and serves as a vital resource for the surrounding area.
Managed by the US Army, El Piojo has a low hazard potential and is regularly inspected to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, the dam plays a crucial role in providing water for fire protection and supporting local wildlife. With a spillway width of 10 feet and a maximum discharge of 786 cubic feet per second, El Piojo is equipped to handle potential flood events and maintain the water supply for its designated purposes.
Overall, El Piojo serves as an essential water resource in the region, offering both practical benefits and environmental support. As a key element in the landscape of Monterey County, this dam stands as a testament to the importance of water management and conservation efforts in the face of changing climate conditions. Its presence underscores the critical role that infrastructure plays in safeguarding our water supply and natural habitats.
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 El Piojo -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio R Nr Lockwood Ca | · | → |
| Nacimiento R Bl Sapaque C Nr Bryson Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| Salinas R Nr Bradley Ca | 367 cfs | → |
| Nacimiento R Bl Nacimiento Dam Nr Bradley Ca | 264 cfs | → |
| San Lorenzo C Bl Bitterwater C Nr King City Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Arroyo Seco Nr Soledad Ca | 24 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near El Piojo.
Boat launches
- New Pleyto Road, Bradley
- West Knoll Circle 10555, San Luis Obispo County
- Boat Launch San Luis Obispo County
- Well Road San Luis Obispo County
- Lynch Road, Bradley
- Mistletoe Lane San Luis Obispo County
Campgrounds
- Lottie Potrero
- Fort Hunter Liggett Primitive Military
- Elk
- Three Peaks Camp
- San Carpoforo
- Turkey Springs Camp
Fishing spots
- Lake San Antonio
- Lake Nacimiento
- Nacimiento Lake
- Whale Rock Reservoir
- Barney Schwartz Park Lake
- Franklin Hot Springs
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Sportsman's Club
- Ventana Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary
- 0.25 Milesupstram Of The Impoundment At Sportsman's Lodge To 0.25 Miles Downstream Of The Impoundment At Sportsman's Lodge
- 0.25 Miles Downstream Of The Impoundment Of Sportsman's Lodge To Ventana Wilderness Boundary
- San Benito River
- Picacho Creek
More reservoirs
Track El Piojo 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 El Piojo
Where does the data for El Piojo 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 Low 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 El Piojo.