Ortega dam
Ortega
Ortega, a Federal water supply facility located in Santa Barbara, California, plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. Constructed in 1956 by the Bureau of Reclamation, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 131 feet and has a storage capacity of 59 acre-feet. The primary purpose of Ortega is to provide water supply for the surrounding area, drawing from the Santa Ynez River and Picay Creek.
With a high hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment, Ortega is a key infrastructure for water management in the region. Despite its age, the dam is well-maintained by the Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees its operations, inspections, and regulatory functions. While the dam has a controlled spillway and emergency action plan in place, its condition assessment is currently not available, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures.
Ortega's strategic location and design make it a vital asset for water resource management in Santa Barbara County. As climate change presents new challenges to water availability and security, facilities like Ortega will continue to play a crucial role in ensuring the sustainable use of water resources for the community. The dedication of the Bureau of Reclamation to the upkeep and safety of Ortega underscores the importance of this infrastructure in the context of changing environmental conditions.
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 Ortega -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Carpinteria C Nr Carpinteria Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Mission C A Rnp A Santa Barbara Ca | · | → |
| Mission C Nr Mission St Nr Santa Barbara Ca | · | → |
| Gibraltar Dam Div Weir A Gibraltar Dam Ca | 13 cfs | → |
| Gibralter Dam Rel Wr A Gibralter Dam Ca | · | → |
| Santa Ynez R Bl Gibraltar Dam Nr Snta Brb C Ca | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ortega.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Middle Santa Ynez
- Middle Santa Ynez Campground
- P-Bar Flat Campground
- Alder Creek Camp
- Upper Santa Ynez Camp
- Upper Oso
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Chorro Grande Canyon To Section Line Dividing Sec 1, T5n, R23w And Sec 6, T5n, T22w
- Section Line To Confluence With Rock Creek
- Headwaters, Upper Piru Creek To Wildernes Boundary
- Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Gold Hill Creek
- Headwaters In The Santa Monica Mountains To Mouth At Pacific Ocean
- Confluence With Gold Hill Creek To Castaic
More reservoirs
Track Ortega 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 Ortega
Where does the data for Ortega 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 Ortega.